Re: Media Review Digest

Gary Handman (ghandman@library.berkeley.edu)
Mon, 14 May 2001 08:32:40 -0700 (PDT)

MRD is, indeed, a useful (altho far from perfect) resource for identifying
educational videos. Like other such indexes (Video Source Book, etc.) it
has definite limits--particularly in its tendency to deal with more
mainstream works...
You should realize that this resource does not include full reviews...it's
basically an index to reviews which offers short statements (10-12 words)
excerpted from the reviews indexed. It's available on the Web as well as
in print. We're fairly happy with the Web version, altho the interface is
a bit clunky.

A substitute for previewing?...no. A worthwhile addition to the reference
toolkit?...yes

Gary Handman

At 07:25 AM 05/14/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>>Hi all,
>
>I'm wondering if many (or any) of you have much experience with Media
>Review Digest in print and/or online. Would it be useful for reviews of
>educational documentaries or is it more feature film oriented? Do people
>who use this resource find it can replace previewing (at least in some
>cases) for collection development?
>
>I'd love to hear any feedback from those who use this resource - both
>positive and negative. If you use it, can you tell me if you use print,
>online or both? If this has already been discussed, please let me know
>and I'll try to search the archives.
>
>Thanks much for any input.
>
>
>Robin
>--
>Robin G. Feinland
>Media Resources Specialist
>Ludcke Library
>Lesley University
>Cambridge, MA 02138
>E-mail: feinland@mail.lesley.edu
>Phone: (617) 349-8863
>Fax: (617) 349-8867

Gary Handman
Director
Media Resources Center
Moffitt Library
UC Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
510-643-8566
ghandman@library.berkeley.edu