FAQ: Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources (SILLVR)
1. What is SILLVR?
Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources (SILLVR), spearheaded by Auraria Library, is a collaborative pilot project among selected Alliance member libraries, the CO Alliance office and streaming video providers, currently Swank Digital Campus and Alexander Street. The pilot, which began in 2020 and has been extended each year since then, allows Alliance member libraries to share streaming videos through Prospector. All library patrons can request Alexander Street videos. The Swank license agreement limits requesting to academic patrons in Prospector and MOBIUS only.
2. What do I do if I receive a SILLVR request for one of my patrons?
The lending library will check the item out to the borrowing library and back in so the transaction is counted in the system. The borrowing library will receive an email from the lending library that contains the requesting patron’s name and the link to access the video. The staff member from the borrowing library, will send an email to the patron which includes a link to the video. This completes the process for the borrowing library. After 21 days (or contract specified length of access) the video will expire. If the patron needs additional time with the video they can re-request it through Prospector as renewals are not allowed.
3. What will a typical SILLVR request look like?
Here is a typical email
Dear X Library Patron
One of your patrons has requested an item through the Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources (SILLVR) program now available through Prospector. Here is the information you will need to fulfill this request to your patron:
Title: Little Women
Requesting Institution: Jeffco Public
Patron name: XXXXX
URL: URL of the streaming video
Expiration Date/Time: 1/27/2020 (After this date, the video is no longer available to view)
**Please note: Streaming Interlibrary Loan Video Resources (SILLVR) is a new pilot program made available through the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries Prospector service. If you have any difficulties, questions, or just would like more information about this program please contact me using the information below
Will include Lending library's contact information.
Feel free to add any other custom language to the email you forward onto your patron.
5. How can I find a list of SILLVR items in Prospector?
Simply enter "SILLVR" in the Prospector search box. Here's a short clip.
6. What are the borrowing policies on SILLVR items?
All Colorado and Wyoming card holders may request Alexander Street SILLVR items. Only academic library patrons can request Swank items due to license restrictions.
7. What are the checkout parameters on SILLVR items?
SILLVR items can be checked out for 21 days with no renewals. The link will expire after 21 days. No need to return these items since they will just vanish from the account.
8 Which libraries are lenders in the SILLVR pilot project?
Auraria and University of Wyoming, CU Boulder, and Colorado Mesa University. However, other libraries may be added over time.
9. Are there public performance rights for SILLVR items
Swank videos do not include public performance rights. For example, a patron couldn't check out a Swank video and have a public showing of it. Alexander Street videos do provide public performance rights.
10. How many titles are included in the SILLVR pilot project?
Alexander Street has about 5,000 titles. Most content is educational or documentary.
Swank has approximately 800 titles. These tend to be more popular block buster titles.
11. Are there limitations on file size for these streaming videos?
No. The email that is passed onto the patron only contains a link to the video.
12. Which type of devices support streaming videos?
Streaming videos are viewable on all modern technological devices including IOS, Android, E-readers, tablets and computers.
13: Can I watch a streaming video on my smart tv?
If viewers want to access the videos on their TVs, they would have to use their TV’s built in web browser and navigate to the URL. In most cases this should work. However this is not a "supported" way to view the videos and the vendor can't provide technical assistance for this. Viewers can also access the video through a smart phone and screen-cast it to the TV (using Airplay for Apple or Chromecast for Android) and these technologies usually work fine.