Streaming access in a fractured world: Designing LibGuides with student users in mind

Abstract

Faculty in the University of Baltimore Division of Legal, Ethical, and Historical Studies incorporate multiple modes of learning into their course materials. For many professors, this means that films are shown as part of the curriculum. As we know from professional experience, streaming access to films through platforms like Kanopy has become financially untenable for many academic libraries.

While the RLB Library often loans physical copies of films for use in the classroom, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way that we were able to provide access to physical copies and streaming media. Our Access Services department noted that reserve requests for August 2020 exceeded the number of reserve requests made in August for the last three years. All three authors have fielded more faculty requests for content, facilitated troubleshooting sessions when technology failed, and have educated additional faculty about streaming content since March 2020.