Film and Video for Instruction

Search for your title in Omni first - most of our streaming video titles can be located and accessed directly from there.

Or, search within some of our main providers of streaming films and documentaries:

• Academic Video Online (AVON) - nearly 80,000 videos covering a wide range of subjects
• Can-Core Academic Video - provides full-length Canadian video programs, documentaries, feature films, short edu-clips, and podcasts
• Criterion on Demand - over 1,500 feature films from mainstream Hollywood Studios as well as documentaries, animated features and titles from independent producers
• Curio.ca -  programs, documentaries, audio content and archival material from CBC/Radio-Canada
• Digital Theatre+ - current, leading British theatre productions, musicals, and operas, with behind-the-scenes documentaries
• Docuseek - independent, social-issue and environmental films from leading documentary distributors
• JoVE Science Education - teaches laboratory fundamentals through simple, easy-to-understand video demonstrations
• JoVE Video Journal -  peer-reviewed scientific video protocols
• Kanopy - over 7,000 documentary films are included in the catalogue, and additional Kanopy titles can be licensed on request. Videos can be integrated with Avenue to Learn.
• LinkedIn Learning (subscription ending September 22, 2025) - over 16,000 online courses covering communication, technology, business, and creative topics
• National Film Board - streaming videos of films, clips and trailers from the NFB collection, including NFB world-renowned documentaries.
• Psychotherapy.net - searchable database of streaming video files on psychotherapy

1. Recommend the purchase of a streaming version. Note that we are extremely limited in our ability to obtain streaming video content outside of our current subscriptions. Even if a streaming copy is available to individuals, we often cannot integrate it into our collection.
2. Community libraries may be an option. McMaster students can obtain a Hamilton Public Library account (online, for free) to access their streaming video services. We can search their resources for you to determine if this is a viable option.
3. Screen sharing. You can play the film over a video chat service, via screen sharing, provided the following criteria are adhered to:
   -    The screening must happen live, and must not be recorded
   -    The screening must only be for students enrolled in the class
   -    The film must be a legitimate copy
   -    The captions must be turned on
   -    If your computer does not have a DVD player, you can borrow one from the library. Please email us directly to arrange the loan.
4. Streaming video rental options or personal subscriptions. As a last resort, you may need to advise students to rent or purchase streaming copies of the films themselves. The library cannot facilitate these purchases, but we can help you locate providers.  

Please be advised that, due to copyright restrictions, the library will not copy content from our existing DVD and VHS collection.

If you choose to include a film as part of your course instruction, please also be aware that the rules around educational performance rights still apply. You may not record copyright-protected films into your lecture (in whole or in part), as doing so would be an unlicensed duplication of the film. When in doubt, the best practice is to provide a link for students to view independently.

For more information on your Rights and Responsibilities surrounding videos in the online classroom, please consult the McMaster's Fair Dealing Policy and  McMaster's Copyright Policies 

Please contact the Video Booking Department if you would like to know more.   

AODA requires that media shown in class or provided to students must be closed captioned. Closed captioning of media helps not only those with hearing impairments, but users of all types, including mature students, ESL students, and students with some categories of learning disabilities.

You can submit requests for Closed-Captions or Described Video to the McMaster Described Video and Captioning Request Tool 

The requirement for captioning all media does not mean that all media can automatically be streamed for use in courses. There are still some restrictions on its use, and in some cases may involve additional licensing costs. While every attempt will be made to add captions to streaming content, it is not possible to guarantee that we will be able to do so in a timely manner.  If you have a student in your class who requires captions as an accommodation, we recommend that you choose an alternate title as a backup and submit your request as soon as possible. For more information on Closed-Captioning please contact Library Accessibility Services or visit the Library Accessibility Services Captioning Information Page.