Videos and DVDs are acquired by the library in support of the general research mission of the university. Videos and DVDs will be made available for circulation to the university population in the same manner as other general collection materials. The library does not acquire videos to be used for public performance. Videos and DVDs are acquired for home use only. Home use includes the following:

  • Individual viewing of the video or DVD in one's home
  • Individual viewing of the video or DVD in one's office

Fair use permits videos and DVDs to be used for face-to-face in-class instruction as long as all of the following criteria are met (c.f. U.S. Code on Copyright, Title 17, Sect. 110, http://www.copyright.gov/title17/circ92.pdf).

  • The performance or display of a work by instructors or pupils occurs in the course of face-to-face teaching activities of a nonprofit educational institution, in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction
  • All in the classroom are involved in the teaching activity.
  • All observing the performance or display of the work are in the same classroom.
  • The person responsible for the performance or display has no reason to believe that the videotape was unlawfully made.

The library does not reserve videos or DVDs for specific times, and cannot guarantee the availability of a video or DVD for a specific classroom session. Items may be placed on Course Reserves for individual student use. The acquisition of videos and other media for instructional purposes should be referred to Instructional Resources, Kerr Hall, Room 1204, 893-3518.

Approved 5/25/04