[Eril-l] Streaming games licensing (e.g., Steam)

Wed Sep 27 12:56:29 PDT 2017

Thanks for the replies!

I've done a little more research since yesterday (with the help of one of
our library systems staff, who has done some purchasing of game consoles
for us in the past), and we've identified some concerns that we're
currently discussing.

First, we've been asked to purchase the Steam Machine (Alienware) console,
which is essentially a computer that allows for the streaming of video
games on one of the large TVs in our gaming lab. I think we're going to
have trouble justifying the purchase of something like this out of our
materials budget--our collection development policy is pretty broad, but
it's never included hardware like this before (that's not to say that we
can't amend it, but it won't happen this week).

The second issue regards the licensing for the streaming games--the
purchase of individual games on the Steam site is set up for individual
users and requires agreeing to a license that the university cannot agree
to. I found out that there *is* a site license/volume license option with
Steam, which is what I believe we would have to set up. Once that is set
up, then we would be looking at buying paid site subscriptions for each of
the streaming games that we are interested in. The paid site subscription
costs are apparently significantly more than the cost of games meant for
individual users (although one can't see those costs until they have
created a volume license account on Steam, which requires the account
creator to agree to a license, which I can't do on my own). We would then
also need to sort out who administers that account, since we don't have the
funds to allow for unlimited spending/purchases.

And last but not least, for materials that the library purchases, any
license agreement attached to the console or the streaming games will need
to go through our university purchasing office for review. The purchasing
office process also now includes an accessibility review, and we don't know
the university's current stance on accessibility and streaming video games,
as it hasn't come up before.

If anyone has any further thoughts on any of the above, they're welcome!

Thanks!
Jennifer

On Wed, Sep 27, 2017 at 3:34 PM, Pennington, Buddy D. <penningtonb at umkc.edu>
wrote:

> Agreed. This is an interesting topic!
>
> Buddy Pennington
> Head of Technology
> Miller Nichols Library
> University of Missouri--Kansas City
> 800 East 51st St.
> Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
> penningtonb at umkc.edu
> 816-235-1548
> UMKC Libraries
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of
> Cowing, Jared
> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 2:27 PM
> To: 'eril-l at lists.eril-l.org' <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Streaming games licensing (e.g., Steam)
>
> I'd be interested in reading replies as well, either about alternative
> game platforms or about Steam in particular (since Steam offers a lot of
> indie titles that are difficult to obtain through any other channel). I
> suggest, without objection, that the conversation stay on the list.
> Thanks!
>
> Jared Cowing | Systems Librarian
> Woodbury University Library | Burbank, CA | (818)252-5202
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2017 15:19:59 -0400
> From: "Bazeley, Jennifer" <bazelejw at miamioh.edu>
> To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> Subject: [Eril-l] Streaming games licensing (e.g., Steam)
> Message-ID:
>         <CAL7RGyVi-ebjTQUypHhcBP6Q4yzyy+rwKPF-ZGgLs7OHH=EeKg at mail.
> gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi ERIL,
>
> Apologies if this has come up before and been discussed at length--I
> searched the archives and didn't see much, but it's very possible I missed
> something.
>
> Are there any libraries out there paying for and managing a service like
> Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/) to provide streaming and/or
> downloadable video games to patrons? We've had requests to purchase games
> this way and are struggling with the logistics of managing a Steam site
> license (https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3303-QW
> RC-3436)
> and purchasing paid site subscriptions for games.
>
> If anyone has experience with managing this product or type of product,
> could you contact me on or off list? Or if anyone knows of any resources
> online that might help, that would also be much appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
> Jennifer Bazeley
>
> --
> Associate Librarian / Coordinator, Collection Access & Acquisitions Miami
> University Libraries <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.c
> om/url?a=http://www.lib.miamioh.edu/&c=E,1,JRN40zopYqyiWueq0
> jvOI8cxNIdQakjA9E0QBVprex91LQsCdI3S0TsVNSyY_IdFRmmXwhcxnZFzxVNr5h_HhKHmXUr
> _XcIlzdGQoDxr-oFFNaJoO_ySsg,,&typo=1>
> King Library 312
> Oxford, OH 45056
> p. 513.529.4216 | e. bazelejw at miamioh.edu
>
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-- 
Associate Librarian / Coordinator, Collection Access & Acquisitions
Miami University Libraries <http://www.lib.miamioh.edu/>
King Library 312
Oxford, OH 45056
p. 513.529.4216 <(513)%20529-4216> | e. bazelejw at miamioh.edu
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