The next time procrastination sets in and the prospect of landing on the MPAA's list of copyright violators deters you from illegal downloading, you can head to the SciLi.
Last week, the Friedman Study Center began a new DVD lending service, introducing 100 popular movie titles that students can now check out free of charge for 24 hours.
Located in the basement of the Sciences Library, the lending library features a diverse list of titles ranging from the action-packed "300" to the critically-acclaimed comedy "Little Miss Sunshine" and the psychological drama "Half Nelson." In just the first week of the library's operation, students have already checked out 61 of the 100 titles, which are listed in the video section of the Josiah library catalog.
Though DVD check-outs are limited to 24 hours, there are currently no penalties for failing to return a movie on time.
"We're hoping people will be community-minded. We don't want this to become an onerous thing," said Steven Lavallee, head of the Friedman Study Center.
Brian Becker '09, former chair of the Undergraduate Council of Students' campus life committee, first proposed the DVD lending library last winter. Due to a conflict during movie screenings for a psychology class, PSYC 0300: "Personality," Becker was forced to view the movies at a later date in the Media Library located on the 14th floor of the SciLi, which he described in an e-mail to The Herald as an "uncomfortable and somewhat inconvenient" experience.
Becker then decided to push for a service that would prevent others from having the same experience. "Having a DVD library on campus would add to the extracurricular life of students and cut down on costs of buying or renting movies if the University could provide the service," Becker wrote in an e-mail to The Herald from Argentina, where he is currently studying abroad.
Fortunately, University officials agreed. "Brown has strong American civilization and pop culture studies, and students needed a good sense of relaxation," Lavallee said. With this administrative support came the financial support for the project - the Office of Student Life and the University Library are splitting the costs of the lending library.
In addition to Lavallee, Becker worked closely with University Librarian Harriette Hemmasi, Interim Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services Russell Carey '91 MA'06, and Associate University Librarian Florence Doksansky to work out the details of the DVD check-out service.
Baker and Taylor Inc., an established business specifically designed to distribute books, videos and music products to school libraries, supplies the service with the DVD titles. Adding 20 new DVDs per month, the library will hold up to 260 titles by the end of the year, at which point the least popular movies will be cycled out of the collection in exchange for 20 new titles.
Erica Reisman '09 said she thought a free DVD library for students was a great idea considering the high prices of Blockbuster and other local video stores, but she remained skeptical of the limited collection.
"I think it would be a good idea to add an online database where students could download movies," she said, adding that most students watch movies on their laptops or PCs.
Upon looking at the DVD collection, Herald Copy Editor Alex Rosenberg '11 said he is certain the service will provide entertainment and relaxation to Brown students, but that the list lacks great films. "There aren't any classics," he said.
The DVD check-out service runs heavily on student feedback, Doksansky said, adding that like the initial 100 titles, the future selection of DVDs will be solely based on student requests. Titles can be requested online or at the service desk in the basement of the SciLi. Over 25 requests have already been placed this week. Recent requests included anime cartoons and the Disney movie "Mulan," Lavallee said.
"You work here for 20-plus years and you think you know students, but they always surprise you," he said.
