What constitutes a reasonable search

Deg Farrelly (DEG.FARRELLY@asu.edu)
Tue, 22 Oct 2002 19:15:43 -0700 (PDT)

OK... so in our discussion of the US Copyright law allowing libraries to
copy a film/video under certain circumstances the question arose about what
constitutes a "reasonable search" for an unused copy.

This sounds like a good question to post to this discussion list for
comment.

I suggest that a reasonable search would include (but not necessarily be
limited to):

1) checking the standard resources: Variety Video Directory, Video Source
Book, Books in Print (lists videos now),

2) An OCLC search for alternate distributors

3) Searching the large distributors' web/catalogs (Facets, Filmmakers
Library, Women Make Movies, First Run Icarus, etc.)

4) A letter to the last known address of the last know distributor

5) Attempted phone calls to the last known telephone number of the last
known distributor

6) A posting to this discussion list (VideoLib) asking for information from
others.....

What other approaches would constitute a reasonable effort?

deg farrelly, Associate Librarian
Media/Communications Studies/Women's Studies
Arizona State University West
P.O. Box 37100
Phoenix, Arizona 85069-7100
Phone: 602.543.8522
Email: deg@asu.edu