Guidelines for Streaming Audiovisual Content

Available Repositories

Cornell University Library hosts three delivery mechanisms for uploading and streaming audiovisual content: eCommons, MediaSpace, and Digital Collections. Below are general guidelines and contacts to help you determine which repository is appropriate for your content. We also have established workflows for pushing course reserves content to Canvas.

eCommons

eCommons is Cornell’s general-level institutional repository. It provides long-term access to a broad range of Cornell-related digital content of enduring value.

• Supported content types: eCommons accepts a broad range of Cornell-related content, representing the intellectual or administrative output of the university.
• Access provisions: Open access; Cornell-only access; temporary access embargoes.
• Submission: Self-submission; library-assisted batch submission.
• Preservation: Our Library has made a commitment to ensuring the long-term preservation and access to material deposited in eCommons. All items are assigned permanent URLs.
• Other considerations: Limited collection branding. Does not provide a set of visually branded, associated web pages for supplementary material about the content.
• When to use: Good for Cornell-related AV content where wide and permanent accessibility is desired. Good for material that needs to be cited in published work.
• Additional information about eCommons.
• Contact: ECOMMONS-ADMIN-L@cornell.edu

MediaSpace

Cornell University Library’s MediaSpace is a “YouTube”-like interface that provides short- to medium-term access to a range of AV content related to Cornell University Library. It is an out-of-the-box user interface for Kaltura.

• Supported content types: Stand-alone AV content; licensed content requiring access limitations; ephemeral content.
• Access provisions: Open access; Cornell-only access; access can be restricted to IP range, or individual IP or login.
• Submission: Self-submission; library-assisted batch submission.
• Preservation: Our Library has not committed to maintaining MediaSpace, or preserving content within it. Items are stored in Kaltura; preservation system TBD.
• Other considerations: No collection branding. Does not provide a set of visually branded, associated web pages for supplementary material about the content.
• When to use: Good for restricted-access AV content, content under development, or content with a limited lifespan. If long-term access is desired, use eCommons.
• Contact: dcaps@cornell.edu

Digital Collections

Cornell University Library’s Digital Collections portal is our Blacklight-based platform for delivering a wide range of content originating from our collections.

• Supported content types: AV content belonging to a thematically cohesive collection.
• Access provisions: Open access; Cornell-only access.
• Submission: Library-managed submission only (fee-based work).
• Preservation: Items are stored in Fedora, Shared Shelf, and Kaltura; preservation system TBD
• Other considerations: Can provide contextualized websites integrated within Portal; allows for cross-searching other digital collections regardless of format (images, books, journals, etc.)
• When to use: Good for thematically cohesive collections of AV content that require or benefit from substantial surrounding explanatory material to provide context, history, etc., and which would benefit from cross-searching other thematic collections within the portal.
• Contact: dcaps@cornell.edu

Canvas

Cornell University Library maintains a link within all Canvas courses to deliver course-related content.

• Supported content types: Course-related content from a wide variety of sources.
• Access provisions: Current course/semester-only access.
• Submission: Self-submission via Media Digitization Request Form.
• Other considerations: Requires fair-use waiver from faculty (to be renewed each semester material is required in the classroom).
• Contact: culmediareserves@cornell.edu

Copyright Guidelines for Audiovisual Content

Below are general guidelines regarding intellectual property issues regarding streaming audiovisual material. When in doubt, always contact copyright@cornell.edu before proceeding with disseminating your content.