Netflix, Hulu, Prime, and other commercial streaming platforms do not offer a subscription for libraries, and user licenses prohibit showing videos except for personal use. (Netflix has an exception for some educational documentaries.)
Some considerations before assigning a video that requires your students to pay for a platform subscription:
- Can all your students afford a subscription to a streaming service? Do they all have a credit card? Were they told in advance this will be a requirement for the course?
- Is the streaming video you want them to watch on a subscription platform also available through library databases? Sometimes this is the case. A librarian can help you check--just ask us using the chat box on the left!
- Is there a video that is free or included with the library's subscriptions that can accomplish the same goal? Your subject librarian would be happy to help you find videos on the topics covered in your course.
- Can you offer different options of videos they can watch to complete the assignment, including some that are free or available through the Library?
