**Publisher:** ProQuest / Alexander Street
**Subjects Covered:** Multidisciplinary – science, engineering, health, social sciences, arts, humanities, and education

Overview

Academic Video Online (AVON) is a comprehensive streaming video database offering more than 80,000 academic films, documentaries, and training videos across disciplines. It provides unlimited, institution‑wide access to professional content from PBS, BBC, National Geographic, A&E, Bloomberg, and other major distributors. AVON supports teaching, learning, and research by offering engaging visual materials suitable for classroom, online, and independent study use.

Scope and Content

• Number of Videos: Over 80,000 titles with regular monthly updates.
• Formats: Documentaries, news segments, feature films, lectures, and training videos.
• Subject Areas: STEM fields, business, health sciences, psychology, education, history, arts, and literature.
• Key Providers: PBS, BBC, National Geographic, A&E, Bloomberg, NBC, and Sony Pictures Classics.
• Access Model: Unlimited simultaneous users; streaming access campus‑wide.
• Features: Searchable transcripts, closed captions, playlists, clip creation, and citation export tools.
• Languages: Primarily English with selected international titles.
• Platform: Alexander Street / ProQuest Video.

Strengths

• Comprehensive coverage supporting all academic disciplines.
• Integrates easily into course management systems and LibGuides.
• ADA compliant with captions and searchable transcripts.
• Ideal for both classroom and online instruction.
• Diverse video formats and global content sources.
• Continuously updated to maintain relevance and variety.
• Supports different learning styles through visual and auditory media.

Limitations

• Streaming only – no download or offline viewing available.
• Primarily English content with limited non‑English materials.
• Dependent on reliable internet connection for optimal playback.
• Some titles may have regional availability restrictions.
• Content is educational but not peer‑reviewed research.

Best For

• Faculty integrating multimedia into lectures or online courses.
• Students seeking video content for research or presentations.
• Librarians teaching media literacy and audiovisual citation skills.
• Interdisciplinary courses linking STEM, humanities, and social sciences.
• Community and outreach programs requiring engaging educational video content.

Complementary Databases

Overall Evaluation

Academic Video Online (AVON) is a premier multimedia resource offering access to high‑quality academic and professional films. It enhances engagement and comprehension by integrating visual materials into teaching and research. For South Dakota Mines, AVON enriches STEM and liberal arts education, ensures accessibility through captioning, and supports innovative instruction across disciplines. It should appear on the A‑to‑Z Databases page and in Multimedia, Teaching Support, and General Research LibGuides as a comprehensive academic streaming video resource.

Ask Digby – Library Help

Need help evaluating sources or accessing databases? Ask Digby, the Devereaux Library’s friendly prairie dog mascot! Digby can assist with off‑campus access, citation tools, and choosing the right databases for your research.

📧 Email: library@sdsmt.edu
🌐 Chat: Ask Digby
🔗 Library Catalog (Primo): https://sdsmt.primo.exlibrisgroup.com

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