I'd actually be MORE concerned for VHS collections than DVD... Our studies here at UCB indicate that as much as 40% of our vhs collection (around 25K titles) is no longer available for replacement in ANY format.
gary handman > We moved our DVD collection from closed stacks requiring retrieval to a > strategy where we put the cases on open stacks in alphabetical order by > title divided into 7 broad genres, but keep the DVD separated from the > cases behind the desk. (The genres are Features, Childrens, Documentary, > Performing Arts, Instructional, Television Series, and Foreign.) The > patrons can browse the collection, bring the cases to the desk, the disk > is > retrieved, inserted into the case and checked out to the patron. > > We did not put any markings on the clear cases we keep the disks in. The > DVDs themselves have an accession number on a donut label on the disk, > (accession number is a hold over from our closed collection). So since > the > disks are in clear cases, we can see through to the label and we didn't > need to have a "one to one" match between clear cases and disks. We > reordered the DVD cases in alphabetical order, but keep the disks in > accession number order. It also helps us manage the space where we hold > the DVDs and allowed us to move through the process of getting the DVDs > from a closed collection to an open stacks collection much more quickly. > > I can sympathize with the abrupt nature of the decision and would be > concerned at the decision to keep DVDs unprotected in the cases on the > shelf. I agree that there is little worry over the VHS collection, but > those DVDs will disappear quickly. The worst part of the acceptance of > "shrinkage" in my view isn't even the theft, (because we all know that > happens), but that you won't know that a particular disk is missing until > someone else wants it...setting you up for failure because another patron > will already be disappointed. Recognizing that sometimes that > disappointed > patron will be a faculty member who needs it in class, might give you some > leverage. > > Four thousand DVDs won't take up that much space. Ask for the clear cases > to shelve them behind the desk. Put the DVD cases, and only the cases, on > open stacks and let students browse. We have had nothing but positive > feedback since making our collection browse-able. The patrons are > thrilled > and they are discovering so many titles they didn't know we had. I am a > strong proponent of having the collection open, but protecting the > collection is equally important. Feel free to contact me off list if you > want more strategy. > > Good luck! > mb > > > > On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Pat Mcgee <pmc...@tntech.edu> wrote: > >> We’re moving to a browsing collection as well, however we are removing >> all the DVDs from their cases and housing them in paper sleeves behind >> the >> service counter. I don’t think the VHS are at risk. I have to say it >> has >> been a majorly tedious project to label with title and call number all >> those >@#!!% paper sleeves.**** >> >> Good luck to you.**** >> >> Pat Mcgee**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Coordinator of Media Services**** >> >> Volpe Library and Media Center**** >> >> Tennessee Technological University**** >> >> Campus Box 5066**** >> >> Cookeville, TN 38505**** >> >> 931-372-3544**** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> *From:* videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto: >> videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] *On Behalf Of *Seay, Jared >> Alexander >> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 21, 2011 10:19 AM >> *To:* videolib@lists.berkeley.edu >> *Subject:* [Videolib] Plea from a Media Collection Decimation Zone**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Media Collections Colleagues,**** >> >> ** ** >> >> I send this out at least in part as a plea for support – moral support >> at >> the very least. Last week from out of the blue my library director >> announced that we were to move our media collection (about 4000 VHS >> videos >> and DVDs) from the media room (with closed stacks) downstairs to open >> stacks around the circulation desk. Although some of the titles known >> to >> be heavily used by faculty for teaching are to be put “behind the desk” >> in >> a limited teaching collection, most of the titles are to be placed in >> an >> “outer ring” of shelving around the circulation desk open to patrons and >> the public. **** >> >> ** ** >> >> Though we had been told that we would be investigating and planning for >> such a potential move sometime in the new year, this directive came >> without >> warning and certainly without any significant planning or forethought. >> The titles are to be put on open shelving. There are no locked cases >> involved and none of the titles are tattle-taped. In the media room >> patrons had to check-out titles even if they wanted to view them in the >> media room. We could track circulation statistics as well as maintain a >> high level of security. As of the beginning of 2012, no such control >> will >> be in place. In short, the entire collection will be unsecure and >> exposed >> to whomever deans pull a title off the shelf - to view or otherwise.**** >> >> I have expressed my deep concerns, but the answer I have gotten back is >> that we “will put things out on the shelves and monitor the shrinkage.” >> Not the most effective way to manage the collection I have noted. Seems >> akin to putting pamphlets on a display that says “take one.” Seems to >> me >> this gets to the basic issue of what a library media collection is for, >> and >> how should it be used and managed? **** >> >> ** ** >> >> For the record, my concerns have been echoed by other collages including >> several higher up my chain of command. But, top level administration is >> un-swayed by such arguments, though I intend to continue to make them >> even >> as I am compelled to move the collection. I suspect there are backroom >> politics involving space issues ownership (of the media room) that I >> will >> not go into here. My biggest concern, apart from the sheer suddenness >> of >> it all, is the future security and integrity of the collection. To go >> from >> a closed room (with check-out viewing only) to completely open stacks >> with >> no security control virtually overnight is not a good thing in my >> opinion. >> I fear that my circulating collection is about to be decimated and >> devalued >> at the very least. **** >> >> ** ** >> >> I suppose that in my shock at what I have been asked to do, I need some >> input from those on this list. My big question to my media colleagues >> on >> this list is this: Does anyone out there have their media collection on >> completely open stacks with no security? I’ll take any input >> (advisory >> or consoling) I can get.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Thanks in advance and happy holidays.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> jared**** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> Jared Alexander Seay **** >> >> Reference Librarian **** >> >> Head, Media Collections **** >> >> Addlestone Library **** >> >> College of Charleston**** >> >> Charleston SC 29424**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Main Office: 843-953-1428 blogs.cofc.edu/seayj/**** >> >> Media Collections: 843-953-8040 blogs.cofc.edu/media >> collections<http://blogs.cofc.edu/mediacollections/> >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> Addlestone Report: blogs.cofc.edu/addlestonereport**** >> >> Reference Services: blogs.cofc.edu/refblog**** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> 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. >> >> > > > -- > Mary Beth Lock > Director, Access Services > Z. Smith Reynolds Library > Wake Forest University > 336.758.6140 > 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.
