If you currently have a VHS title that you are using in your teaching, these are some options you can take to transition to DVD or streaming video. 

If you are the copyright owner of your VHS content and are interested in transferring your content to a digital format, there are a number of companies available in the Buffalo area who provide this service (fees will be incurred). You can do an online search to find available businesses.

• Replace the title with a commercial DVD equivalent. It may be possible to order a copy of your title in DVD format to be housed in the library. If you know your title is available in a DVD version, you can simply fill out the library's Purchase Request Form. You can also contact your school's library liaison for more information or for help placing a request. For specific information on ordering titles, please link to Faculty Services of the library.
• Access the title or equivalent content on one of our streaming video services. Currently the library subscribes to two major streaming video services: Alexander Street Press 
  Video and Films on Demand. Besides being able to access the video titles 24/7, most videos have running 
  transcripts and the ability to be edited into segments and added to playlists. Videos can also be embedded into your Blackboard course (see here or contact Instructional Resources for help with this). See the Video Streaming Services tab in this guide for more information.

• Search the library catalog for your title in DVD format.  The library might already have your title in digital format. Search our current Media DVD collection from the catalog by selecting Media DVD under the More Collections drop-down menu in advanced search.
• Get a more updated title. If your video is out of print, you may be able to get a better, more updated, version or title in DVD or streaming format. Contact your library liaison for assistance.

For a full explanation of streaming video and audio available at the library, please visit our Finding Multimedia guide.

Here are some of the ways we can help.

• If you have a personal or departmental copy of a VHS title, your library liaison can help you search for a DVD replacement. The library will purchase the replacement, and it will become part of the library's regular media collection.
• The library always takes recommendations for new materials for our collection (books, DVDs, etc.) from Buffalo State faculty via our purchase request form.
• If the library holds a copy of a VHS title that is necessary for teaching, the library will help search for a DVD replacement and, if it exists, the library will purchase the replacement copy.
• For assistance with Copyright or Fair Use, consult the SUNY Copyright and Faculty Ownership of Intellectual Property guidelines.
• The library will continue to purchase academic content in formats other than VHS and will continue to seek out academic content including video streaming databases.
• As a reminder, there are many videos with academic content available on YouTube, TED Talks, and Kahn Academy.