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Information Technology Services

Media Services

"I am amazed at how far audio-visual technologies have come. I remember when all we could offer were basic services like cassette and VHS duplication. Now our services seem endless with the addition of Podcasting, video and tele-conferencing, web casting, video editing, and portable conferencing units! I am eager to see what's next for audio-visual technologies!"- Darby DeChristopher- Manager of Media Services, Harvard Law School

Media Services (617.495.4840) located in Pound 205, provides media support for classes, conferences and other on-campus events. We are also here to help the community be innovative with the use of audio-visual technology. If you have ideas about additional media services, or would like us to work with you in developing ideas, please feel free to contact us so that together we can develop a plan and institute it into your classroom or event

Please note that curriculum-related services are provided free of charge. Services provided for conferences, meetings, and other non-curricular activities are charged to the sponsoring group or faculty member, based upon published rates and policies.

Please note that 3 business days are required to ensure proper staffing and equipment is on hand to accommodate requests. Any requests made less than 3 business days prior to event start time will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis, and service and/or equipment is not guaranteed.

Classroom Support

Classroom support includes voice enhancement; video playback; overhead, slide, video, and computer data projection; audio and video recording; video-conferencing and teleconferencing; video-streaming; and video editing. Media Services can help faculty members connect their laptops to the Law School's network for use in classrooms or, if preferred, may supply (with advance notice) a laptop for occasional classroom use.  Court TV, cable TV, and Harvard Instructional Television System (HITS) can be configured for classroom viewing in Hauser Hall, Kirkland & Ellis Classroom, Vorenberg Classroom, Austin Hall, and Pound 102.

Faculty can arrange for videotaping of student exercises in trial skills, oral argument, negotiation, and mediation in most Law School classrooms (note: make-up classes are audio-taped rather than video-taped.) Video playbacks of these exercises may be scheduled in playback rooms or in the instructor’s classroom. Several classrooms have video projectors or large monitors installed. Faculty may also request an LCD data projector for almost any classroom, and small VCR/TV units are available for video previewing and viewing in faculty offices.

Faculty may request to have any class audio recorded and burned to disk and/or have the audio file made available via their course website as an audio podcast or a streaming media file. Podcast files may be downloaded by students where Streaming Media files are accessed and watched by students but not downloaded. Please click differences between Streaming Video and Podcasting for more information.

Voice enhancement systems are available in the Austin Hall classrooms and courtrooms, the Langdell classrooms, the classrooms on the first floor of Pound Hall, Pound 335, Ropes Gray and John Chipman Gray, Hauser 101, 102 and 105, Griswold 110, Lewis 202, 301 and 302, the Hark Terrace Patio, Terrace Lounge, the Fireside Lounge, the Café and the Pub.

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Video Conferencing

What you Need to Know Before Scheduling a Video Conference:

If you would like to schedule a Video Conference at Harvard Law School you need to schedule a space with the Events Office (617-495-3129) and schedule the call with Media Services (617-495-4840) at least ONE WEEK in advance of the actual video conference.

BEFORE you schedule the room and video conference call there is some information you need to have.

Media Services needs ONE WEEK notice before the video conference is to happen. This time allows us to get in touch with the technicians on the far end and perform a test call. Often these calls are overseas and a week’s notice is necessary to coordinate with those in other time zones or to alleviate any technical difficulties that arise in the test call.

There are two types of Video Conferences; IP and ISDN. IP and ISDN determine how the signal will be sent. The quality will be better with ISDN but the cost is significantly more and Harvard Law School can only perform ISDN based Video Conferences in the classrooms and courtrooms of Austin Hall where the built in equipment is based. If cost is a concern and you want a more intimate setting, IP is more appropriate, IP based video conferences are far less expensive and can be conducted in any classroom and conference room on campus with portable video conferencing units. Please note if your video conference involves calling a courthouse, these locations tend to ONLY allow ISDN calls.

Once the contact information is received and you know the type of video conference call you will require, you may proceed with scheduling the call with the Events office and Media Services.

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Video Library

The Law School Video Library, located in Media Services, has a wide variety of law-related DVDs. In addition, Media Services will purchase commercial DVDs requested by faculty for classroom use based on need, cost, and potential future utilization. Please note that blank DVDs will be charged to the instructor’s allowance. For a list of available DVDs please contact Media Services.  To arrange to sign out materials or to receive a list of the video library, please contact Media Services.

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Pricing

All required class activities are not charged for A/V equipment and services. All other requests for A/V equipment are billed based on our pricing structure. Class is defined as anything required in order to receive a grade. Typically, if your room was assigned by the registrar's office it is considered a class. If you need assistance determining whether your event is considered a class, please Media Services at 617.495-4840.

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Real Video WebCast

Real Video Webcasts are live video "broadcasts" that are streamed via the web. HLS webcasts are designed to stream over both dial up and broadband connections. In order to watch a Real Video stream, one must have Real Player installed on his/her computer. The free Real 10 Player can be downloaded from the ITS software library.


Please note:

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Media Services Request Forms

All requests for media services should be made via one of the three online forms. To view all A/V request forms, please visit the ITS Forms page. Please note: a "class" is defined as any occurrence for which the faculty member requires attendance, the student receives a grade, or typically, if your room was assigned by the registrar's office.

If you need AV services for your non-class event and do not require the assignment of space by the Event's Office (either the Event's Office has already assigned you space or you control the usage of this space, e.g., a private office), please use the non-class request form.

If you need to modify a request, please e-mail av@law.harvard.edu. In the e-mail note you have previously submitted a request and are requesting changes, in the subject line of the e-mail, please include the date on which the service is needed and the name of the event.

If you have any questions or would like help in determining the appropriate audiovisual needs for your event or class please e-mail av@law.harvard.edu.

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Check AV Requests

You can check your a/v equipment or job request with Media Services within 3 business days of the scheduled event by clicking on the link below:

AV Schedule

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Contact Information

Pound 205
av@law.harvard.edu
Phone: 617.495-4840
Fax: 617.496-6645

Monday - Friday 8am-9pm
Saturday - 8am-4pm
Service is not available on Sunday

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