Films Help

On-campus

Films@UM are available via any computer directly connected to the University of Maryland network (including Shady Grove) using a campus Local Area Network (LAN) or the UMD wireless network.

Other collections of films, such as The Jim Henson Works have different use policies. The Jim Henson Works are only viewable at public computers in the following UM College Park locations: the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, Theodore R. McKeldin Library, and Hornbake Library.

Off-campus

Users of Films@UM with the proper campus affiliation can view these films from home if they are using the Virtual Private Network (VPN). This software allows the Office of Information Technology (OIT) network to authenticate a computer off campus. To view films from home, you must install VPN on your home computer. Further information about VPN and how to download and install it can be found on OIT's website http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/topics/applications/vpn/3836/. Once you have installed the VPN client, you will need to login by following the directions on OIT's site. Windows users please note that a small yellow padlock should appear in your system tray (where most Windows computers display the time) while the VPN client is running.

Films from the The Jim Henson Works may not be viewed from off-campus.

How do I Find a Film?

The easiest way to find available films is through Digital Collections. Alternatively, films within the Films@UM collection can be located through the UM Libraries catalog by doing a title search. Once a record has been located, the film may be accessed via the link in the record or through the "Find It" menu. When a digital film is available, it is also listed at the "UMCP-Online-Resources" location.

Downloading RealPlayer

Digital films at the University of Maryland are available only through RealPlayer. To download the free plugin, please visit the RealPlayer site.

Viewing controls

Users with the proper plugins and authentication can play films by selecting "GO" next to the "Play Film" option at the bottom of the screen.

Below the embedded screen, this page also features abridged metadata information. The full record can be viewed by clicking the link at the bottom to "Display complete item information."

The RealPlayer window will open in the film screen with further controls for play, pause, stop, fast forward, and rewind.

To open the viewer in a separate window, right click (on a Windows PC) or control-click (on a Macintosh) to bring up the RealPlayer menu and choose "Play in RealPlayer."

The RealPlayer window will open in a new browser window and the film will restart. The player can be resized by either dragging the lower right corner of the player with the mouse or by using the resize controls in the upper left-hand corner of the film screen. The resize controls also include a button to toggle Theater mode, which will play back the film using the full screen.

When in Theater mode, pressing either the "Esc" key on the keyboard, or the "Return" button on the RealPlayer, will return the film screen to its default configuration.

Theater mode controls differ depending on whether you are using RealPlayer for a Windows PC or a Macintosh. If you are using a PC, the button will be located in the upper-left corner of the screen and look like this:

On a Macintosh, however, the controls are located at the bottom-right corner of the screen, and look like this: