Unraveling the Chaos of Streaming Videos

Streaming videos have been a challenge to incorporate into library collections. Stony Brook University has tried many ways to make streaming videos accessible through the library, including PDA models, firm orders, and hybrid purchasing models. Over the last 3 years, we have addressed budget issues, streamlined the workflow, and expanded our collection to serve our community. This presentation will discuss the methods we used to assess our streaming video usage and workflows, and the changes we made to reign in spending, simplify the workflow, and increase access to streaming content. Prior to March 2020, streaming videos were only a small part of our collection and thus weren't a major component of the acquisitions department's work load. When classes went online for the 2020 - 2021 academic year, streaming video requests increased exponentially. We had to review each component of the workflow for ordering streaming videos to streamline the process so the acquisitions department wasn't overwhelmed with the flood of requests coming in for the fall semester. This presentation will take the attendees through the process we went through to make ordering streaming videos easier, first by eliminating redundancies in the workflow, then implementing a streaming video request form, and lastly, expanding our streaming video offerings by subscribing to Alexander Street Press's Academic Video Online through a consortium and trying Kanopy's Smart PDA program.