Just checked my local library system and there are 7 available copies of Heavenly Creatures, I could get it and watch it in a few days via inter library loan. But I'm in the States.
95% of the films I watch via the library I would venture. But it depends on your system.
Of course, none of that has anything to do whatsoever with the point. As we transition as a society away from physical goods and towards digital goods, we are placing ourselves at risk of companies erasing those digital goods. For now we have backups (like DVDs) and workarounds (like VPNs). Reasonably soon that won't be the case. It is possible that the favorite content of toddlers today (e.g. on Disney+) might just be totally inaccessible to them one day.
Also (IANAL) but if you acquire the disc, back it up and then keep or destroy the original, it’s even fully legally sound.
The library bought one copy of the dvd/BR and shares it with as many users as they can. How is that fundamentally different than downloading an “illegal” copy on file sharing? In either case, someone acquired the source material (afaik, “pirated” content is bought with actual money most of the time) and then shared without further revenue for the publishers.
Isn’t that fundamentally the same except for saying that libraries can do it but not scene groups?
Libraries are just a more convoluted and restrictive way of doing the same thing imho. While not everyone everywhere has access to a library system (let alone a well funded one), virtually anyone can download off the internet.
Note: None of this is a commentary on what’s “right” just discussing the legal ramifications. I don’t personally care what anybody does or have energy to convince anyone of anything.