Requesting Streaming Media for UW Seattle Campus

IMPORTANT: No requests for streaming or physical media will be processed from June 6 - July 10, due to UW Finance Transformation. See Operations Updates for more info.

Streaming Media Policy for Seattle Campus

The UW Libraries supports the curricular streaming needs of the university.  However, the high cost of streaming videos combined with budget constraints requires some limits on what the Libraries is able to provide. The policy for acquiring streaming rights may be adjusted from quarter to quarter based on funding. We ask that you carefully consider non-streaming and other streaming options prior to requesting that the Libraries acquire the rights to stream titles. Please review our Using Video in Courses guide prior to submitting a request.

Guidelines for UW Libraries Purchase of Streaming Rights

The UW Libraries supports curricular-based streaming video as best as we can given budget constraints, restrictive vendor licensing terms, high costs (typical streaming rights for one year ranges from $150-$600 per film), and the need for equitable distribution of streaming across departments. We will acquire streaming rights for courses within the following criteria:

• Course must be part of a UW degree-granting program.
• Streaming is available for Course Reserves only and must be required viewing for the entire class
• Limit of 10 new streaming titles per course
• Streaming requests are purchased on a "first come, first serve" basis until the quarterly budget is expended

Keep in mind that:

• Setting up streaming agreements with vendors can be time-consuming. Please plan ahead, as it can take weeks/months to license these materials.
• Upon expiration of a license, the library will apply the above criteria for license renewal decisions.

Submit course reserves streaming video purchase requests through the Streaming Media for UW Seattle Courses Request Form. (Submit requests for Health Sciences Library through the HSL Streaming Media Request Form).