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Dear Maurine:
Public libraries offer a wide variety of incentives many patrons enjoy =
but with that come many problems as well. Media in public libraries as =
numerous benefits but unless you have the staff which must include =
technicians who can remove stuck items, repair a split video frame =
without losing an important part of the film, repairing vcrs,TV/VCR =
combo units, cleaning, clerks with some technical background on showing =
patrons how to use the equipment and handle items, clear rules and =
regulations regarding use and abuse, and funding, tread carefully. I am =
in charge of an academic media center where we have more control simply =
because we are non-circulating. All items must be viewed in-house and =
college IDs are required. No ticket-no laundry as the saying goes. This =
is not to say that we don't encounter problems- we do. but we are also =
able to impact directly on a patron who may manage to walk out with an =
item. We can access their the class schedule, and even contact them at =
home, if need be. Because we have an on-line circulation system, access =
to our student patron records can be made.=20
In a public arena will you limit the amount of time a patron can use a =
carrel, either for video or recordings? And if so, what is the time =
limit?
In a public library, remember that many senior citizens enjoy their =
local library where they can=20
read the paper, look at the latest bestsellers. This latest offering =
will undoubtedly attract many more. And don't forget the school kids =
once school lets out. They will draw to this like magnets. You will have =
to have the kind of staff that can deal with this particular group. As a =
former children's librarian, I can say that I really enjoyed working =
with children. I cannot say this for many of my former staff members =
that worked with me during those years.=20
Will the carrels where video can be viewed, have headsets, and if so, =
how will patrons be allowed to get them. Another aspect to consider is =
cleaning headsets. We clean headsets everyday because=20
of the amount of hairspray and other hair products many students use. =
This must be done in any
public environment where equipment such as ours is used. Good luck.
LaRoi Lawton
Gerald S. Lieblich Learning Resource Center
Library & Learning Resources Dept.
Bronx Community College/CUNY
laroi.lawton@bcc.cuny.edu
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Maurine Canarsky=20
To: Multiple recipients of list=20
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 1:16 PM
Subject: Media in Public Libraries
Dear Videolib people:
I've posted this query to CircPlus, so please excuse the =
cross-posting.
We are starting to grapple with some thorny issues to determine =
whether or not to introduce media equipment for public use into the =
library. We would appreciate responses from public libraries which have =
carrels or equipment already, so that we can at least begin to decide =
exactly what direction to take.
Here are a few of our questions:
What kind of equipment do you provide the public for use in the =
library? VCRs? DVD players? Compact Disc music players? Tape =
players? Other?
Who uses the equipment in the library? Parents and children? After =
school student use? Adults?
Is the equipment high end stuff or inexpensive (like boom boxes)? =
Where do you purchase your equipment (i.e., catalogs, the local discount =
house, etc.)?
Do you have special furniture for the equipment? What kind?
Does the equipment live in the furniture permanently or do you hand it =
out and plug it in on request?
What do you do about security for the equipment?
What happens when the equipment breaks? Do you have a repair or =
replacement budget? How often does the stuff break?
How do you monitor use of the equipment? Do people sign up to use it? =
Do you hold a library card or i.d.? Who monitors usage? Circ.? =
Reference? Someone else (who)?
How is the usage? Is the amount you have meeting the demand?
Do you think the equipment is worth the expense and staff time? Why =
or why not?
Thanks very much for any help you can give.
Maurine Canarsky
Circulation/Media Librarian
Noel Wien Public Library
1215 Cowles St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-459-1020
FAX 907-459-1024
maurine.canarsky@fnsb.lib.ak.us
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