RE: [Videolib] borrowing fees for videos

Mike Boedicker (mboedicker@hotmail.com)
Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:25:08 -0600

I've been following this thread w/ interest. We currently charge for all
VHS ($.50) & DVDs ($1) but will eliminate fees for nonfiction starting in
January. While I don't like charging for anything, our video budget is
derived entirely from video fees & fines, and I've had no success changing
the funding. I do think the new policy is a step in the right direction
because half of our video collection is nonfiction & we're the best source
in town for it.

To improve acccess to the video collection, three years ago we instituted
"Free Tuesdays" where all videos & DVDs are free on that day. It has been a
huge success (circ is often 5X higher than other days) but only for fiction
videos. We have become, in essence, a free Blockbuster on Tuesdays. And
while use is way up, revenues are down, because so many people borrow only
on Tuesdays -- just one more problem with relying on fees.

Mike Boedicker
Audiovisual Director & Webmaster
Danville Public Library
319 N. Vermilion, Danville, IL 61832
(217) 477-5223 ext. 123 / Fax: (217) 477-5230
Library site: http://www.danville.lib.il.us
Personal site: http://www.boedicker.net

_______________________________________________
Videolib mailing list
Videolib@library.berkeley.edu
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/videolib