Collection Development

There are two types of streaming video licenses:

1. One- to three-year: Films are "loaned" to our library, and their licenses must be renewed by a librarian when their lease has expired. 
2. Perpetual: Our library users gain perpetual or permanent access to the film.

Annual licenses are taken out of the library's general collections budget, while perpetually licensed films are taken out of the library's differential budget. Perpetual license purchases have a cap of $500, a hosting cap of $25, and must be used in a course for at least three years.

Limitations

The library will only purchase licenses for streaming videos which have been approved for use in a course. Instructors or students may request access to films for a course, and when requesting, please be sure to include the course number.

If you would like to request access to a streaming video for a course, please email our Acquisitions Librarian, Hanna Paquette, with the title, year, director, and course the film is for. Please CC your library liaison if it is not Hanna.

You may also request films directly through Swank and Kanopy:

Swank

1. Log into Swank, or create a free account with your UWS email if you do not have one.

2. Search for the film you would like to request, and click on its image.

3. Click the blue "Request" button.

4. Complete the form by filling out each field and including which course the film will be used in, and click "Send." A librarian will contact you about your request shortly.

To check on your current film requests and previous requests, click on the "Title Requests" link on the left-hand side of Swank.

Kanopy

1. Log into Kanopy or create a free account with your UWS email if you do not have one.

2. Search for the film you would like to request, and click on its image.

3. Complete the form by filling out each field and including which course the film will be used in, and click "Request Access." A librarian will contact you about your request shortly.

Please Note: The library currently uses a mediated access model through Kanopy, which requires a librarian to manually approve each film request if we do not currently have a license for said film. Please allow at least three days for a request to go through, and we encourage instructors to send their liaison a list of films they will be needing before each academic semester begins.