Steps to play a movie at your library

• Check to see if the movie you want to show is in Kanopy with a public performance rights tag.
• If not, determine if it is covered by MPLC or Swank.
• Email the events team libraryevents@multco.us. You may be asked to request a license.

Movies

Do you need a license to show a movie? Almost always, the answer is yes. What you need are the public performance rights, and for most movies that means paying for a license. 

What if I just don't advertise the title of the movie?

You still need to obtain public performance rights that allow for unadvertised screenings, in most cases, so yes, you need a license. You can't "get around it" for most movies.

In fact, the licenses we pay for (like Swank) specify that the library shouldn't be advertising the titles of movies. Outside the library where large numbers of people might see the promotion, in newspapers or other media, we can only list "Movie Night" or whatever. (This seems to have to do with not being in competition with commercial venues.) 

Kanopy

• You can play some Kanopy movies free from the app. A public performance license for many of their films is included in the library’s subscription.
• These rights extend to the film title and any images from their website that you want to use to advertise the screening, as long as source credit is given to Kanopy.
• Look here for instructions on identifying which films can be screened -- or just as libraryevents@multco.us for help.
• If your event is in the second half of the month, keep in mind the new limits for Kanopy streaming. We can have that lifted for a staff event, but we need to ask in advance.
• Remember to request any new events through the Staff led program submission form.

Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC)

• A yearly movie license allows you to play any movie produced by the movie studios covered by the license. To request this license your location must commit to having four movie events during the year.
• These licenses stipulate not mentioning the title when advertising outside the library.
• Request a license(link is external). 

Swank

• This license covers the most popular movies usually. SERS will pay for one-time licenses for popular movies not covered by MPLC.
• These licenses stipulate not mentioning the title when advertising outside the library.
• Please use the Staff led program submission form to request new movies.

Funimation / Crunchyroll

• Funimation has folded and most of their catalog is now in Crunchyroll. Hopefully this will include what you want to watch! They have a program that offers free access to libraries that host anime clubs(link is external).
• This is branch-by-branch, so each youth librarian needs to set up their own.

Miscellaneous

• Some movies are themselves purchased with PPRs already attached. These are just never going to be Hollywood-type movies, but they do exist.
• Movies that are in the public domain can be shown. A movie would be in the public domain if it were really old. Currently, that means made before 1929.
• Occasionally, you might come across a specific movie no one seems to cover -- email libraryevents@multco.us(link sends e-mail) if that is the case.

Music

BMI

Locations need this license if there is any kind of event where there is any kind of recorded music being played. It is a yearly license, once covered, a location can host other events with recorded music.

Music at Storytimes 

Locations can play recorded music from a music CD at library storytimes without a license under the not-for-profit or educational exception of the fair use doctrine, assuming there is no charge for the event.  See 17 U.S.C. § 110. if you own a media file like an MP3, it is the same as playing a CD, however, digital streaming services’ end user agreements often only provide individual use only and explicitly prohibit public use. Until a streaming service that meets these requirements becomes available and is approved by county IT, locations should only play recorded music from a music CD.

If you decide you need to go with Swank or MPLC, check to see if your location is on the current list of library locations and licenses.