RE: "A Gift of Love" (was: Sybil)

Gregory Callahan (gregory_callahan@hotmail.com)
Tue, 3 Dec 2002 09:39:57 -0800 (PST)

Well, you know. A lot of libraries nowadays really do have a "just give 'em what they want" philosophy.  If usage stats are key--either for your board or for your funding sources--maybe you'd want to be a little flexible on the point.  Besides,  "The Sopranos"  really is quality fare.

I try to avoid the "get it at Blockbuster!" retort, because I don't really feel I can assume that just because someone can afford a VCR (or DVD player), they can afford a lot of rentals.  So serving my public really may involve including SOME television product in the video collection.  Preferably good quality TV product, but TV nonetheless. 

But ultimately, it's up to each individual library or library system/consortium to come up with a system that works for them.  You know your community, your policy and your budget.  No one should make that decision for you.  On the other hand, I really don't other librarians jumping down my throat for stocking THE SOPRANOS or a season or two of THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW.  (I actually have the former, was considering the latter.) 

Greg Callahan

Greg Callahan

>From: "Carol Dunn"
>Reply-To: videolib@library.berkeley.edu
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: RE: "A Gift of Love" (was: Sybil)
>Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2002 08:53:12 -0800 (PST)
>
>That's my point exactly. Where do we draw the line? Someone asks for a TV
>show everyday,
>but we just can't blow the whole budget on it. So I try to steer clear of
>them.
>And yes, I'm talking about Sex and the City, Sopranos, Friends etc. We don't
>have
>them because it would water down our selection of feature films, foreign
>films etc.
>I'm trying to attract patrons who see our collection as unique and
>wonderful.
>Am I asking too much! :-)
>Regards,
>Carol Dunn
>AV Manager, NT Administrator and Webmaster
>dunn@oplin.lib.oh.us
>Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
>206 Broadway
>Findlay, Ohio 45840
>www.findlay.lib.oh.us
>Telephone: 419.422.1712
>Fax: 419.422.0638
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: videolib@library.berkeley.edu
>[mailto:videolib@library.berkeley.edu]On Behalf Of Linda Stevens
>Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 11:34 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: RE: "A Gift of Love" (was: Sybil)
>
>
>Our library's scope is somewhat broader than strictly the history of the
>American Motion Picture. We have collected several of these television DVD
>sets (Sopranos, Sex and the City, All in the Family, and, yes, Friends) and
>they have all been very popular with the public library customers. I just
>think of it as using the same selection criteria I would use for a motion
>picture to choose something from television. Although, we certainly don't
>purchase television products in comparable amounts, so I guess my guideline
>is fuzzier than I thought.
>
>Linda Stevens, Media Specialist
>Harris County Public Library
>8080 El Rio
>Houston, Texas 77054
>lstevens@hcpl.net
>713-749-9069
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: videolib@library.berkeley.edu
>[mailto:videolib@library.berkeley.edu]On Behalf Of Carol Dunn
>Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 10:09 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: RE: "A Gift of Love" (was: Sybil)
>
>
>True enough. But, I always tell my patrons that we are collecting the
>history of the American Motion Picture--not TV. In addition, we collect
>Foreign Films with subtitles only, not dubbed. We do have a TV section with
>videos like I Love Lucy etc., but you could spend the entire budget on it.
>How about this new thing on DVD where an entire TV season is on sale? We do
>not collect in this area, does anyone out there buy this stuff? Where do
>you draw the line? Therein lies the problem.
>Carol Dunn
>AV Manager, NT Administrator and Webmaster
>dunn@oplin.lib.oh.us
>Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
>206 Broadway
>Findlay, Ohio 45840
>www.findlay.lib.oh.us
>Telephone: 419.422.1712
>Fax: 419.422.0638
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: videolib@library.berkeley.edu
>[mailto:videolib@library.berkeley.edu]On Behalf Of Anne Bulin
>Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 9:22 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: Re: "A Gift of Love" (was: Sybil)
>
>
>At 08:55 PM 12/2/2002 -0800, you wrote:
> >But nowadays, I doubt that any of these tv films would be made
> >commercially available. It seems that the market has changed. I notice
> >that a few splashier efforts like the recent Judy Garland film bio ME AND
> >MY SHADOWS saw the light of day. And of course, a good deal of the
> >Hallmark Hall of Fame series eventually was released. But whereas before
> >things seemed hit or miss, nowadays, TV product is pretty much
> >miss. Which is kind of a shame, seeing as even the worst theatrical
> >movies (even the biggest commercial and critical duds) see VHS release (is
> >that pattern changing with DVD, I wonder?).
>
>It's funny that the opposite seems to be happening for non-network TV
>stuff. Videos and DVDs of things like Merlin and Lathe of Heaven (from TNT)
>are being sold practically before the film has even stopped airing. Lathe
>of Heaven was some serious drek, in my opinion.
>
>Anne
>
>----------------
>Anne Bulin, Technology and A/V Coordinator
>Barrington Public Library
>http://www.barringtonlibrary.org
>anne@barringtonlibrary.org
>401-247-1920 x316
>Fax: 401-247-3763

Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.