Hi Becky,
It's really difficult to give 'hard facts' on this question (playability
of DVD-Rs) -- there are just too many variables. Different kinds of
discs, different methods of replication / burning, different kinds of
players... We affix a brightly colored label to all of the DVD-R's in
our collection that lets our patrons know that the disc is a DVD-R and
may play differently in different machines ("Please test in classroom
equipment before a class screening", etc.). DVD-Rs burned on an
independent filmmaker's home computer are going to be more problematic
than those that are professional replicated, but it's pretty much a
crapshoot. We have problems with playback from certain vendors over
others (which has definitely affected purchasing decisions), but many
others play very reliably on different players. Especially old players
have a harder time with DVD-Rs, but other than that it's hard to discern
patterns. (My guess is that this patron has an older player -- she'd be
better off putting her energy into shopping for a newer machine than
climbing ladders. Sometimes showing a complaining patron that the disc
plays fine on one of our departmental players can help them see that the
problem is not entirely the fault of the disc.)
99% of the time there is not a choice between buying a film on DVD vs.
DVD-R. So, if you have a patron organizing a protest, she should know
that the only practical alternative would be to start a policy where
DVD-Rs would not be purchased / added to the collection at all, and of
course this would severely limit the educational / documentary content
in your collection.
Best,
*************************
Meghann Matwichuk, M.S.
Associate Librarian
Film and Video Collection Department
Morris Library, University of Delaware
181 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19717
(302) 831-1475
http://www.lib.udel.edu/filmandvideo
On 3/12/2012 12:55 PM, Tatar, Becky wrote:
Hi, all,
A couple of months ago I asked if there was increased risk of degradation on
burned DVDs vs pressed DVDs. Someone responded, and I can't remember who. I
think the answer was that the burned titles can degrade. Also, someone
mentioned that the burned titles don't always play on older players. We get a
lot of discs returned from patrons claiming that the disc won't play. I put it
in our player and it works fine. I can't find these answers in the archive.
We have a patron complaining up the ladder about discs that don't play on her
player, so we need some facts on this. Thanks!
Becky Tatar
Periodicals/Audiovisuals
Aurora Public Library
1 E. Benton Street
Aurora, IL 60505
Phone: 630-264-4100
FAX: 630-896-3209
blt...@aurora.lib.il.us
www.aurorapubliclibrary.org
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 tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
distributors.
