Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-28 Thread Ball, James (jmb4aw)
I agree with Gary that Blu-ray and streaming are solutions to two different 
issues, one being image and the other being convenience.  

For my film studies professors I do buy Blu-ray.  We've outfitted our four 
teacing spaces with Blu-ray decks and HD projectors or TVs, and converted 4 of 
our 32 viewing stations to Blu-ray.  I usually only buy Blu-ray if requested, 
but when I do I also buy a regular version of the title.

My non-film-studies professors are more interested in streaming for its ease of 
access.  Alas, most streaming licenses aren't what we're looking for (in 
perpetuity for a resonable cost) so we don't have that many.

Cheers,

Matt



Matt Ball
Media and Collections Librarian
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA  22904
mattb...@virginia.edu | 434-924-3812

From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] 
On Behalf Of ghand...@library.berkeley.edu [ghand...@library.berkeley.edu]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 2:06 PM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

Hi all

I gotta say it again:  I think the notion of skipping over Blu-Ray in
favor of streaming is completely and absolutely faulty thinking on any
number of scores.  First of all:  Blu-ray is a format whose major
attraction is a high resolution image and high quality sound.  It is
almost completely unlikely that streamed video will every offer such
(unless there's some major consumer electronics tech breakthroughs).
Conversely, the primary advantage of streamed video lies in it's ease of
access--it's bypassing of physical media.  It's not really an either/or
proposition.

The thing that keeps me up at night has to do with neither Blu-ray, nor
streamed media, per se.  It has to do with what is VERY likely to get lost
in the shift from one format or delivery mode to another.

Gary Handman





 Pamela, I'm with you. I am finishing up a laserdisc  CED conversion
 project, and am in the middle of a VHS conversion project. I'm hoping to
 hold off on blu-ray as long as I can, and am hoping we can skip right over
 the format to streaming.

 That said, if there's a film we want, we'll buy it. In whatever format it
 comes in. Right now, I'm still buying the occasional VHS tape as needed,
 and
 I'm sure we have a handful of blu-rays in the collection as well. As far
 as
 equipment, we bought a few PS3s for our gaming collection and put them in
 our media viewing area in case we need to support blu-ray viewing
 in-house.

 On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 9:17 AM, Jana Atkins jatki...@uco.edu wrote:

  I’m late to this discussion, of course, but I have not been buying
 Bluray
 discs, nor do I plan to start buying them.  I’m also more interested in
 waiting until I can move into the streaming arena.  However, my school
 does
 not have a film studies program.  The interest in the titles I purchase
 are
 almost solely plot/story-based.  Picture and sound quality for DVDs is
 usually good enough.  I’d say the only exception I’d make where I’d say
 that
 sound quality is important would be opera and other stage productions.
 But
 my experience there is that picture and sound quality often aren’t much
 of a
 consideration during production, so moving to a better format isn’t
 really
 going to help.  Better to provide a more accessible format.

 And for the record, I completely agree with Gary’s assessment that
 Blueray
 = Betamax.  And also with Dennis’ that DVD = VHS.  And I honestly
 believe
 the next step to that argument is streaming = DVD.



 Jana Atkins, B.M., M.L.S.

 Performing Arts/Multimedia Librarian

 University of Central Oklahoma

 Max Chambers Library

 100 N. University

 Edmond, OK  73034

 405-974-2949





 *From:* videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:
 videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] *On Behalf Of *Pamela Bristah
 *Sent:* Friday, September 24, 2010 10:19 AM

 *To:* videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
 *Subject:* [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries



 A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:



 Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding
 off?
  (I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university
 libraries, since we're in the same boat.)



 If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase
 titles
 you have on DVD, or only new titles?



 Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD,
 the
 thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to
 sleep,
 for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.



 Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD
 to
 streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just
 educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.

 __

 Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central
 Street, Wellesley MA 02481

 phone 781-283

Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-27 Thread Jana Atkins
I’m late to this discussion, of course, but I have not been buying Bluray 
discs, nor do I plan to start buying them.  I’m also more interested in waiting 
until I can move into the streaming arena.  However, my school does not have a 
film studies program.  The interest in the titles I purchase are almost solely 
plot/story-based.  Picture and sound quality for DVDs is usually good enough.  
I’d say the only exception I’d make where I’d say that sound quality is 
important would be opera and other stage productions.  But my experience there 
is that picture and sound quality often aren’t much of a consideration during 
production, so moving to a better format isn’t really going to help.  Better to 
provide a more accessible format.
And for the record, I completely agree with Gary’s assessment that Blueray = 
Betamax.  And also with Dennis’ that DVD = VHS.  And I honestly believe the 
next step to that argument is streaming = DVD.

Jana Atkins, B.M., M.L.S.
Performing Arts/Multimedia Librarian
University of Central Oklahoma
Max Chambers Library
100 N. University
Edmond, OK  73034
405-974-2949


From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu 
[mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Pamela Bristah
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 10:19 AM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:

Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding off?  
(I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university libraries, 
since we're in the same boat.)

If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase titles you 
have on DVD, or only new titles?

Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD, the 
thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to sleep, 
for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD to 
streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just 
educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.
__
Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, 
Wellesley MA 02481
phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, 
pbris...@wellesley.edumailto:pbris...@wellesley.edu


**Bronze+Blue=Green** The University of Central Oklahoma is Bronze, Blue, and 
Green! Please print this e-mail only if absolutely necessary! 

**CONFIDENTIALITY** This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain 
confidential, proprietary and privileged information. Any unauthorized 
disclosure or use of this information is prohibited.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-27 Thread Rudy Leon
Pamela, I'm with you. I am finishing up a laserdisc  CED conversion
project, and am in the middle of a VHS conversion project. I'm hoping to
hold off on blu-ray as long as I can, and am hoping we can skip right over
the format to streaming.

That said, if there's a film we want, we'll buy it. In whatever format it
comes in. Right now, I'm still buying the occasional VHS tape as needed, and
I'm sure we have a handful of blu-rays in the collection as well. As far as
equipment, we bought a few PS3s for our gaming collection and put them in
our media viewing area in case we need to support blu-ray viewing in-house.

On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 9:17 AM, Jana Atkins jatki...@uco.edu wrote:

  I’m late to this discussion, of course, but I have not been buying Bluray
 discs, nor do I plan to start buying them.  I’m also more interested in
 waiting until I can move into the streaming arena.  However, my school does
 not have a film studies program.  The interest in the titles I purchase are
 almost solely plot/story-based.  Picture and sound quality for DVDs is
 usually good enough.  I’d say the only exception I’d make where I’d say that
 sound quality is important would be opera and other stage productions.  But
 my experience there is that picture and sound quality often aren’t much of a
 consideration during production, so moving to a better format isn’t really
 going to help.  Better to provide a more accessible format.

 And for the record, I completely agree with Gary’s assessment that Blueray
 = Betamax.  And also with Dennis’ that DVD = VHS.  And I honestly believe
 the next step to that argument is streaming = DVD.



 Jana Atkins, B.M., M.L.S.

 Performing Arts/Multimedia Librarian

 University of Central Oklahoma

 Max Chambers Library

 100 N. University

 Edmond, OK  73034

 405-974-2949





 *From:* videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:
 videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] *On Behalf Of *Pamela Bristah
 *Sent:* Friday, September 24, 2010 10:19 AM

 *To:* videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
 *Subject:* [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries



 A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:



 Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding off?
  (I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university
 libraries, since we're in the same boat.)



 If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase titles
 you have on DVD, or only new titles?



 Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD, the
 thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to sleep,
 for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.



 Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD to
 streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just
 educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.

 __

 Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central
 Street, Wellesley MA 02481

 phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, pbris...@wellesley.edu



 ***Bronze+Blue=Green*** The University of Central Oklahoma is Bronze,
 Blue, and Green! Please print this e-mail only if absolutely necessary!

 ***CONFIDENTIALITY*** -This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain
 confidential, proprietary and privileged information. Any unauthorized
 disclosure or use of this information is prohibited.

 VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
 relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
 preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
 related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
 working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
 between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
 distributors.




-- 
Rudy Leon
Learning Commons Librarian
Undergraduate Library
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
(217) 333-3503
http://www.deepening.wordpress.com
AIM: rudibrarian
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


[Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Pamela Bristah
A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time: 

Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding
off?  (I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university
libraries, since we're in the same boat.)

If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase titles
you have on DVD, or only new titles?  

Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD, the
thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to
sleep, for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.  

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD
to streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just
educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.
__
Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central
Street, Wellesley MA 02481
phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, pbris...@wellesley.edu


VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Dennis Doros
Not to piss Gary or anyone off, but as I've mentioned before, DVD sales are
way down and the journalists are much more interested in covering bluray.
Add to that my films usually start with $10,000 to $50, film transfers
done at 2K, that our reputation is based on quality, that I tend to move
into a technology when the player drops below a $100, *and* that Netflix
really wants streaming more than DVDs, the decision is pretty clear for our
company. (Probably not for educational films.)

I'm really considering releasing Bluray only and having DVD-Rs for those who
want otherwise.  We are definitely at the crossroads!


-- 
Best,
Dennis Doros
Milestone Film  Video/Milliarium Zero
PO Box 128
Harrington Park, NJ 07640
Phone: 201-767-3117
Fax: 201-767-3035
email: milefi...@gmail.com
www.milestonefilms.com
www.ontheboweryfilm.com
www.arayafilm.com
www.exilesfilm.com
www.wordisoutmovie.com
www.killerofsheep.com
AMIA Philadelphia 2010: www.amianet.org
Join Milestone Film on Facebook!
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread ghandman
Check back with me in five years, Dennis...

Bluray = BetaMax

gary



 Not to piss Gary or anyone off, but as I've mentioned before, DVD sales
 are
 way down and the journalists are much more interested in covering bluray.
 Add to that my films usually start with $10,000 to $50, film transfers
 done at 2K, that our reputation is based on quality, that I tend to move
 into a technology when the player drops below a $100, *and* that Netflix
 really wants streaming more than DVDs, the decision is pretty clear for
 our
 company. (Probably not for educational films.)

 I'm really considering releasing Bluray only and having DVD-Rs for those
 who
 want otherwise.  We are definitely at the crossroads!


 --
 Best,
 Dennis Doros
 Milestone Film  Video/Milliarium Zero
 PO Box 128
 Harrington Park, NJ 07640
 Phone: 201-767-3117
 Fax: 201-767-3035
 email: milefi...@gmail.com
 www.milestonefilms.com
 www.ontheboweryfilm.com
 www.arayafilm.com
 www.exilesfilm.com
 www.wordisoutmovie.com
 www.killerofsheep.com
 AMIA Philadelphia 2010: www.amianet.org
 Join Milestone Film on Facebook!
 VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of
 issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic
 control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in
 libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve
 as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of
 communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video
 producers and distributors.



Gary Handman
Director
Media Resources Center
Moffitt Library
UC Berkeley

510-643-8566
ghand...@library.berkeley.edu
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC

I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself.
--Francois Truffaut


VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Pearson, Jeffrey
We are purchasing Blu-rays here at  the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and 
my approach to selection is in line with Meghann’s; film studies kinds of 
films, stuff like Planet earth, and a few like Avatar that I know patrons will 
want. Blu-ray circulation is surprisingly strong. We have one HD 
monitor/blu-ray player set up in our viewing area.

Jeff

From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu 
[mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Meghann Matwichuk
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 12:01 PM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

We at the Univ. of DE Library are purchasing BluRays.  We only have about a 
dozen on shelf right now, but our two biggest circulating titles are Avatar and 
the Planet Earth series.  I do not purchase titles on BluRay unless we have a 
standard-definition copy already in the collection -- there are two few of our 
users who have the players, and they are not supported in the classroom.  I 
personally see it more as a novelty than a serious shift in collection 
priorities, however I'm starting to think that some titles will soon be 
purchasable only in combination (standard packaged with BluRay).  I ran across 
a yet-to-be-released PBS title not too long ago that appeared be coming only in 
such a package.  This will create a headache for us -- How to catalog -- split 
them up?  Keep in original packaging and they end up with BluRays -- we 
encourage folks to check there for standard copies as well?  Headaches aplenty.

I try to purchase titles that best show off the technology, e.g. those that 
were filmed in high-def or have been subjected to high-quality high-def 
'restoration'.  The recent BBC nature titles are incredible on BluRay, as are 
the restored Kubrick films and some others.  Animated films also benefit 
especially from high-def presentation, so we have a number of Pixar films on 
BluRay.  DVD Beaver is a good source for determining the quality of BluRay 
releases.

A few notes:

* Just as some VHS titles look better on VHS than they do on DVD, some standard 
definition DVDs look better than BluRay.  Case in point:  North by Northwest.  
The standard (restored) version has better contrast and gives a much more 
pleasurable viewing experience than the BluRay, which is pretty flat / dark 
(albeit perhaps truer to the film) in comparison.  At least IMHO.

* We have several LG BluRay players and they can be somewhat fussy when playing 
discs.  After investigation (and my own personal experience), I feel confident 
in saying that the best BluRay player currently available is the Sony 
PlayStation 3 console.  Even if it's not being used for gaming at all, it's a 
great player.  More consistent, can handle heavy use, well-designed interface.

* They can be more time-intensive to catalog, thanks to menu complications and 
some poor design.  Disney especially.

Best,

*
Meghann Matwichuk, M.S.
Associate Librarian
Instructional Media Collection Department
Morris Library, University of Delaware
181 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19717
(302) 831-1475
http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/instructionalmedia/

On 9/24/2010 11:18 AM, Pamela Bristah wrote:
A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:

Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding off?  
(I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university libraries, 
since we're in the same boat.)

If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase titles you 
have on DVD, or only new titles?

Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD, the 
thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to sleep, 
for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD to 
streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just 
educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.
__
Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, 
Wellesley MA 02481
phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, 
pbris...@wellesley.edumailto:pbris...@wellesley.edu








VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working

Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Dennis Doros
Gary,

Agreed. Not really an argument.

But DVD = VHS.

DD

On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:49 PM, ghand...@library.berkeley.edu wrote:

 Check back with me in five years, Dennis...

 Bluray = BetaMax

 gary



  Not to piss Gary or anyone off, but as I've mentioned before, DVD sales
  are
  way down and the journalists are much more interested in covering bluray.
  Add to that my films usually start with $10,000 to $50, film
 transfers
  done at 2K, that our reputation is based on quality, that I tend to move
  into a technology when the player drops below a $100, *and* that Netflix
  really wants streaming more than DVDs, the decision is pretty clear for
  our
  company. (Probably not for educational films.)
 
  I'm really considering releasing Bluray only and having DVD-Rs for those
  who
  want otherwise.  We are definitely at the crossroads!
 
 
  --
  Best,
  Dennis Doros
  Milestone Film  Video/Milliarium Zero
  PO Box 128
  Harrington Park, NJ 07640
  Phone: 201-767-3117
  Fax: 201-767-3035
  email: milefi...@gmail.com
  www.milestonefilms.com
  www.ontheboweryfilm.com
  www.arayafilm.com
  www.exilesfilm.com
  www.wordisoutmovie.com
  www.killerofsheep.com
  AMIA Philadelphia 2010: www.amianet.org
  Join Milestone Film on Facebook!
  VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of
  issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic
  control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in
  libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve
  as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel
 of
  communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video
  producers and distributors.
 


 Gary Handman
 Director
 Media Resources Center
 Moffitt Library
 UC Berkeley

 510-643-8566
 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu
 http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC

 I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself.
 --Francois Truffaut


 VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
 relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
 preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
 related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
 working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
 between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
 distributors.




-- 
Best,
Dennis Doros
Milestone Film  Video/Milliarium Zero
PO Box 128
Harrington Park, NJ 07640
Phone: 201-767-3117
Fax: 201-767-3035
email: milefi...@gmail.com
www.milestonefilms.com
www.ontheboweryfilm.com
www.arayafilm.com
www.exilesfilm.com
www.wordisoutmovie.com
www.killerofsheep.com
AMIA Philadelphia 2010: www.amianet.org
Join Milestone Film on Facebook!
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Oksana Dykyj
Gary,

I agree with your assessment of the streaming vs. Blu-ray argument, 
particularly when it has to do with the question of non-commercial 
vs. academic use. If the user is simply concerned with content 
access, streaming will do, but areas like Film Studies are usually 
concerned with the quality of the image and sound. If I was not 
supporting Film Studies I would also be questioning the never ending 
process of repurchasing titles.

The Concordia University situation is that we are now getting 2k 
projectors for the auditoria where Film Studies are taught. We also 
enthusiastically support 35mm films. Film Studies courses have almost 
always been taught with a licensed projectionist in a projection 
booth setting up clips, projecting films and digital media.  I have 
been buying Blu-rays for 3 years now and we have somewhere over 200 
titles. My Dean managed to argue for some badly needed capital funds 
and I have been able to equip my 3 seminar rooms with 65 THX 1080p 
monitors and all-region Blu-ray players. I'm also in the process 
of  changing the individual viewing stations to make them less 
institutional and more semi-private with 32 1080p monitors and 
all-region Blu-ray players.  But all this is simply because we have 
an academic area that requires this and I have been able to 
successfully lobby for the money (and miraculously there was some 
money).  The result has been very interesting: students are really 
responding and actually spending a lot of time watching movies here 
compared to when we had 17 monitors and DVD players.  This is the 
beginning of the semester and it looks like the end of the semester 
in terms of student traffic.

And as for differences in DVD vs. Blu-ray, on some films, if you have 
an upconverting DVD player the differences are almost 
indistinguishable. But, on other films, like Kino's The General, the 
difference is completely mind boggling. Doing a side-by-side 
comparison of the DVD  and the Blu-ray is like watching a VHS 
transfer next to a 35mm print. In this particular case, I'm not exagerating.

It's all a matter of budget first, and supporting client's real needs.

Oksana

At 11:50 AM 24/09/2010, you wrote:
...oh, buy the way:  in thinking about the next evolutionary hop in
mediadom, I think it's important to avoid conflating issues having to do
with media delivery and ease of access (streaming)with image quality.
Let's face it, unless there's a some spectacular quantum technological
leap, moving images delivered over networks are always going to be
inferior to what can be delivered/projected locally...at least in
non-commercial contexts).  In other words, the I'm not buying Blu-ray,
I'm waiting for streamed delivery is sort of a misguided argument.

gary


  Blu-What?
 
  Look...what exactly is the point?  Does the university intend to install
  Blu-ray machines (or HD projectors) in classrooms?  Hell, they can barely
  get it together to put in shades on the windows.  Is the media center
  going to install 42 HD monitors at individual or group viewing
  stations???  I don't THINK so...
 
  Not to mention:  In the past three years, I've spent maybe 10 to 15 grand
  on replacing VHS titles with garden-variety DVDs...no way I can justify
  rebuying the collection again for the sake of sweeter eye-candy.
 
  gary handman
 
 
  A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:
 
  Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding
  off?  (I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university
  libraries, since we're in the same boat.)
 
  If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase
  titles
  you have on DVD, or only new titles?
 
  Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD,
  the
  thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to
  sleep, for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.
 
  Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD
  to streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not
  just
  educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.
  __
  Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central
  Street, Wellesley MA 02481
  phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, pbris...@wellesley.edu
 
 
  VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of
  issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic
  control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in
  libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve
  as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel
  of
  communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video
  producers and distributors.
 
 
 
  Gary Handman
  Director
  Media Resources Center
  Moffitt Library
  UC Berkeley
 
  510-643-8566
  ghand...@library.berkeley.edu
  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC
 
  I 

Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Michael May
I've been buying Blu-rays for my medium-sized public library for almost two 
years, and they circulate well. We have one Blu-ray viewing station, too.

Rather than replacing DVDs, the Blu-rays compliment or supplement our DVDs. 
Generally I buy Blu-rays when we have 15 or more patron requests for titles on 
DVD, usually the newest box-office hits, about 5 to 10 Blu-rays per month. If I 
had more money, I'd buy older, better reviewed releases on Blu-ray, but patron 
demand and title availability for DVDs far outweigh Blu-rays.

Mike

Michael May
Adult Services Librarian
Carnegie-Stout Public Library
360 West 11th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4697, USA
Phone: 563-589-4225 ext. 2244
Fax: 563-589-4217
Email: m...@dubuque.lib.ia.us

From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] 
On Behalf Of Pamela Bristah [pbris...@wellesley.edu]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 10:18 AM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:

Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding off?  
(I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university libraries, 
since we're in the same boat.)

If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase titles you 
have on DVD, or only new titles?

Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD, the 
thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to sleep, 
for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD to 
streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just 
educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.
__
Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, 
Wellesley MA 02481
phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, 
pbris...@wellesley.edumailto:pbris...@wellesley.edu



VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.


Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Steffen, James M
Dennis, as much as I like DVDs, I can easily see why you (Milestone) might 
choose to go Blu-ray only with DVD-Rs created on demand. The decline in the DVD 
market is very real. The major studios staved off the stagnation in the DVD 
market temporarily by flooding the market with TV series on DVD, but that only 
lasted for so long. As people have noted in earlier threads, the major 
studios--Warner first and now MGM/US, Universal and Sony are starting to sell 
DVD-Rs on demand of classic titles that only a couple years ago would have made 
the cut for a standard DVD release. This is bad for libraries since DVD-Rs are 
not a stable medium, but I don't know what can be done about that because we're 
not the primary market for home video titles. At least in Warner's case they're 
making a lot of wonderful, rare stuff available now.

Emory is collecting mostly the same kind Blu-ray titles as Jeff at Ann Arbor 
and Meghann at U of Delaware, not a large number. We have a Blu-ray player and 
Pioneer plasma display in the library's Group Viewing Room, and a couple 
Blu-ray players and HD LCD screens in viewing carrels. (They also play standard 
DVDs, of course, so they get used either way.) One newly constructed classroom 
building has high-definition projectors and Blu-ray players installed, but as 
far as I know the rest of the main campus is still standard-def and standard 
DVD only.

I don't think that having to re-buy at least *some* video titles in a new 
format or upgraded version is a bad thing at all. I am quite happy to buy both 
the restored Criterion DVD and Blu-ray of Antonioni's THE RED DESERT when we 
already have the sad old Image DVD with faded color. People study that film 
precisely for its use of color, so I consider the upgrade money well spent. Yes 
it costs money, but it's far less than a lot of other things libraries spend 
their money on, such as public performance rights for a one-time public 
screening or copyright clearance fees for a single course reserves reading 
assignment that exceeds fair use.

--James

--
James M. Steffen, PhD
Film and Media Studies Librarian
Theater, Dance, ILA/IDS and LGBT Subject Liaison
Marian K. Heilbrun Music and Media Library
Emory University
540 Asbury Circle
Atlanta, GA 30322-2870

Phone: (404) 727-8107
FAX: (404) 727-2257
Email: jste...@emory.edu
Web: www.jamesmsteffen.net

--

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:49:35 -0400
From: Pearson, Jeffrey jwpea...@umich.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Message-ID:

3eaaba89d046bd49b271131fdf18e85c06dc905...@itcs-ecls-1-vs3.adsroot.itcs.umich.edu

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

We are purchasing Blu-rays here at  the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and 
my approach to selection is in line with Meghann?s; film studies kinds of 
films, stuff like Planet earth, and a few like Avatar that I know patrons will 
want. Blu-ray circulation is surprisingly strong. We have one HD 
monitor/blu-ray player set up in our viewing area.

Jeff

From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu 
[mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Meghann Matwichuk
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 12:01 PM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

We at the Univ. of DE Library are purchasing BluRays.  We only have about a 
dozen on shelf right now, but our two biggest circulating titles are Avatar and 
the Planet Earth series.  I do not purchase titles on BluRay unless we have a 
standard-definition copy already in the collection -- there are two few of our 
users who have the players, and they are not supported in the classroom.  I 
personally see it more as a novelty than a serious shift in collection 
priorities, however I'm starting to think that some titles will soon be 
purchasable only in combination (standard packaged with BluRay).  I ran across 
a yet-to-be-released PBS title not too long ago that appeared be coming only in 
such a package.  This will create a headache for us -- How to catalog -- split 
them up?  Keep in original packaging and they end up with BluRays -- we 
encourage folks to check there for standard copies as well?  Headaches aplenty.

I try to purchase titles that best show off the technology, e.g. those that 
were filmed in high-def or have been subjected to high-quality high-def 
'restoration'.  The recent BBC nature titles are incredible on BluRay, as are 
the restored Kubrick films and some others.  Animated films also benefit 
especially from high-def presentation, so we have a number of Pixar films on 
BluRay.  DVD Beaver is a good source for determining the quality of BluRay 
releases.

A few notes:

* Just as some VHS titles look better on VHS than they do on DVD, some standard 
definition DVDs look better than BluRay.  Case in point:  North by Northwest.  
The standard (restored) version has better contrast and gives a much more

Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

2010-09-24 Thread Mary Hanlin
I bought 51 Blu-rays back in March, in part because I'd gotten several requests 
to purchase some, in part because I wanted to conduct a small trial.  Part of 
the way I justified trying out Blu-ray was that I bought also bought regular 
DVDs of anything that I bought in Blu-ray.  So if a student said, No fair, I 
don't have Blu-ray, we could say, We have the film in regular DVD format.

Though our Blu-rays circulate, they don't circulate extremely well and the 
circs don't appear to be growing.   One Avatar, for example, circulated 21 
times in regular DVD format.  So far, it's circulated 5 times in Blu-ray.  For 
some of the older films, the circs are a bit more even: Raging Bull, in 
Blu-ray, has circulated twice since March.  In regular format, it has 
circulated four times.  On the flip side, I have gotten some anecdotal feedback 
from students who think it's cool to offer Blu-ray, and we've ILL'd more of 
the Blu-ray than we have the DVD counterpart.

Like many, I think the data show that access often trumps quality. I don't 
really feel sorry about getting Blu-ray though, because it's not really an 
access versus quality paradigm.  To me, it's a now versus --maybe if we're 
lucky-- ten years from now paradigm. Of course any library that could (legally) 
purchase Avatar online and offer it to its patrons, would do so.  But why do we 
keep comparing something like Oliver Stone's Malcolm X with an online PBS 
Malcolm X?  So, Blu-ray may not be about fulfilling the best option, as much as 
it is about listening to patron input, and determining if it can serve as a 
small part of the option.  I think that each library needs to think about 
Blu-ray on its own terms.

Mary.

Mary Hanlin
Media Collection Development Librarian
Tidewater Community College
P: 757.822.2133
F: 757.822.2149
mhan...@tcc.edu




-Original Message-
From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu 
[mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Michael May
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 1:06 PM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

I've been buying Blu-rays for my medium-sized public library for almost two 
years, and they circulate well. We have one Blu-ray viewing station, too.

Rather than replacing DVDs, the Blu-rays compliment or supplement our DVDs. 
Generally I buy Blu-rays when we have 15 or more patron requests for titles on 
DVD, usually the newest box-office hits, about 5 to 10 Blu-rays per month. If I 
had more money, I'd buy older, better reviewed releases on Blu-ray, but patron 
demand and title availability for DVDs far outweigh Blu-rays.

Mike

Michael May
Adult Services Librarian
Carnegie-Stout Public Library
360 West 11th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4697, USA
Phone: 563-589-4225 ext. 2244
Fax: 563-589-4217
Email: m...@dubuque.lib.ia.us

From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] 
On Behalf Of Pamela Bristah [pbris...@wellesley.edu]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 10:18 AM
To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
Subject: [Videolib] Blu-Ray in libraries

A perennial question, but a good one to revisit to from time to time:

Are you purchasing Blu-Ray titles for your library, or are you holding off?  
(I'm especially interested in hearing from college and university libraries, 
since we're in the same boat.)

If you're purchasing, what criteria do you use?  Do you re-purchase titles you 
have on DVD, or only new titles?

Having just about completed switching the collection from VHS to DVD, the 
thought of moving next to Blu-Ray makes me want to lie down and go to sleep, 
for about 45 years.  And, the cost would be prohibitive.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if libraries could go straight from DVD to 
streaming video, at Blu-Ray image quality?  For feature films, not just 
educational and documentary titles?  Oh well, a girl can dream.
__
Pamela Bristah, Collections Librarian, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, 
Wellesley MA 02481
phone 781-283-2076, fax 781-283-2869, 
pbris...@wellesley.edumailto:pbris...@wellesley.edu



VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues 
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, 
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and 
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective 
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication 
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and 
distributors.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is for 
the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and 
privileged information or otherwise be protected by law. Any access, use, 
disclosure or distribution of this email message by anyone other than the 
intended recipient(s) is unauthorized and prohibited. If you are not an 
intended recipient (or an agent