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Resources for Urban Faculty

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Video Use Policy

Video Use Policy at Urban
Many viewing scenarios during in-person classes are covered under Fair Use guidelines. Read below for specifics, or reach out to library@urbanschool.org for clarification!

What to do in an in-person class:

  • Use DVDs that you/Urban has purchased or borrowed from the library
  • Use Kanopy or Hoopla with your SFPL card
  • Use digital copies of films that you or your department own, including copies of these films that we have made password-protected on vimeo

What not to do in class:

  • Show films from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, rentable Vimeo, or other streaming services that forbid non-private use in their terms of service. Current interpretation of these terms forbids viewing in the classroom.
  • Show illegal films from youtube or vimeo

Special Cases
Some educational films created by specific streaming services allow viewing in the classroom. Both Netflix and HBONow/HBOGo currently offer this service. For more information on which films are included, contact the Library Director.

If you want to use a film that is not covered by an educational license and cannot be obtained by traditional means (purchasing a DVD, borrowing from the library, streaming via kanopy or hoopla, etc.), please check in with the Library Director for further instruction.

You may consider your classroom to be a private location, in which case you would not be violating your terms of use. This decision is up to you as the owner of the account and the Urban School is not be held liable in any way for any action taken on your account.

Homework Viewing
Have the students watch on Kanopy or Hoopla if it is available.
If not, find out if the video is rentable on iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon Video. Put the movie title on your book list and let Drea know that it is a film. We will mark the cost at $5. 
Students may choose to purchase the film rental when buying books and will be given a $5 gift card to use to download the film. 
They may also opt out of purchasing the rental of the film through the school and find their own way to watch (similar to buying a book elsewhere). 

Extracurricular
Urban School has an MPLC umbrella license that allows us to show a wide variety of movies, TV programs, and other content. MPLC represents over 1,000 rights holders, ranging from major Hollywood studios to children’s, faith-based, independent, television, special interest, and international producers. Chances are, whatever your club is showing during lunch or after school is covered. HOWEVER, your terms of service (TOS) agreement with Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime supersedes this license. If your club would like to show something during lunch or after school, they should follow guidelines similar to classroom use. 

What to do during club meeting times/ extracurriculars:

  • Use DVDs that you/Urban has purchased or borrowed from the library
  • Use Kanopy or Hoopla from SFPL
  • Use digital copies of films that you or your department own, including copies of these films that we have made password-protected on vimeo. Note: Charlotte has a budget set aside for student purchases of films and television shows. 

What not to do during club meeting times/ extracurriculars:

  • Show films from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or other streaming services that forbid non-private use in their terms of service. Current interpretation of these terms forbids viewing in the classroom.
  • Show illegal films from youtube or vimeo

Special Cases
Some educational films created by a streaming service allow viewing in the classroom. Both Netflix and HBONow/HBOGo currently offer some documentaries that offer permission-free viewing in classrooms.