UMA Libraries is committed to helping other UMS campuses successfully provide streaming film for use in distance courses and in the learning management system (currently Brightspace). Beginning in Fall 2019, UMA Libraries ceased purchasing physical DVDs for non-UMA campus requests and converting physical media to digital streams for non-UMA campus faculty. UMA staff can provide training and/or documentation for campuses who wish to provide this service on their own.

Film Streaming Support Policy

UMA Libraries is committed to helping other UMS campuses successfully provide streaming film for use in distance courses and in the learning management system (currently Brightspace).

UMA Libraries provides system-wide access to Swank Digital Campus. Faculty, instructional designers, librarians and other university-affiliated stakeholders may request feature films for semester license using the Streaming Films Request Form.

UMA Libraries does not purchase physical DVDs for non-UMA campus requests.

Copyright Statement

Instructors distributing electronic materials such as video through their Brightspace course site must provide students notice that materials used in connection with the course may be subject to copyright protection. Here is a statement to insert in your Brightspace module:

Please read the following regarding e-reserve documents: WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS — The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproduction of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research. If electronic transmission of reserve material is used for purposes in excess of what constitutes “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

UMA Faculty Copyright Guidelines


To share digital video resources that are protected by copyright with students enrolled in your courses, faculty members should first search video databases to which the University and/or the University System have licenses.

If you find the video you want in one of these databases, follow the instructions to copy and paste the permanent link into your course site, e.g. Brightspace.

If you do not find the resource you want there, proceed as follows:

  • Get a legally obtained University-owned or faculty owned copy of the video (e.g. from the library, purchased by you or your department, etc.). The University of Maine at Augusta may only copy and share with students digital video resources that were lawfully acquired.
  • Faculty are not allowed to copy and share digital video resources created and distributed specifically for educational purposes, such as commercial instructional videos on how to improve one’s writing. This also covers most everything created and distributed with textbooks or related resources.
  • Non-education-focused, lawfully obtained videos may only be shared if they are an integral part of a course. They must only be shared during the time period in which the course is offered and, within that, during the period of the semester in which they are assigned. The amount of the video that is shared should also be limited to that portion of the video that is necessary for the specific purpose of sharing the video, whenever possible.
  • Many faculty may find using Brightspace and Kaltura the simplest approach to sharing videos.  All Brightspace course shells should include the required copyright statement (below) and limit access to students enrolled in the course during the period in which they are enrolled. Kaltura disseminates the video in a way that meets the requirements of copyright law.

In short, faculty need the following:

  1. Statement about the University’s copyright policy associated with the video
  2. Access controls which limit viewing to students enrolled in the course 
  3. Video streamed rather than downloaded 
  4. Made available by or for an Instructor
  5. The video is an integral part of a course
  6. The video was not created for the education market
  7. The video was made from a lawfully obtained copy–e.g. legally made and purchased.
  8. The video is limited to the smallest portion of the whole copyrighted work as necessary to meet the purpose of providing it, whenever possible.

These procedures apply to blended/hybrid, flipped, and online course offerings.  If you are a faculty member and need help creating a digital copy for loading into Kaltura, bring or send the lawfully acquired copy to Katz or Nottage Libraries for posting to Kaltura.

Copyright Statement to Include in Brightspace Course Shells:

Please read the following regarding e-reserve documents:
WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproduction of copyrighted material.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research. If electronic transmission of reserve material is used for purposes in excess of what constitutes “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Looking for a film?

Browse all Streaming film databases.

Streaming Film Databases

Academic Video Online: Premium

Academic Video Online: Premium is the largest and most comprehensive video subscription available to libraries. It delivers more than 48,000 video titles spanning essential subject areas including anthropology, business, counseling, history, music, film, and more. Visit Database

Counseling and Therapy in Video

Counseling and Therapy in Video provides faculty and students with a first-hand look at the realities of working with clients and the challenges associated with putting theoretical concepts into practice. Visit Database

Swank Digital Campus

Major Hollywood and independent movie studios have appointed Swank as their exclusive licensing and distribution partner to offer their box-office hits for non-theatrical markets. Use the request form to secure rights to films in the Digital Campus catalog. Visit Database

Digital Theatre

Digital Theatre has grown to become the world’s biggest on-demand platform specializing in delivering live arts content such as theatre, opera, classical music, and dance. Visit Database

Films On Demand

Films On Demand is a streaming video platform providing outstanding educational video content. Includes the FMG Archival Films & Newsreels Collection. Visit Database

Videatives

Videatives’ mission is to make children’s thinking visible through the use of short video clips with supporting text. Videative titles capture the details of what children know and how teachers can build from children’s knowledge. Institutional login: [credentials available from library staff]. Visit Database