Video Librarian on CD-ROM

Kristine Brancolini, 812/855-3710 (BRANCOLI@cluster.ucs.indiana.edu)
Fri, 13 Oct 95 10:24:26 EWT

Randy: At the recent National Film and Video Market, a group of librarians
discussed with Ambrose the possibility of releasing the Shakespeare Plays
series on laserdisc. They said if we had 100 librarians that expressed
interest (not an actual commitment to buy), they would consider doing it.
Is there any chance you could do the same thing with VL on CD-ROM? How
many copies would you have to sell to make it worth your while financially?
You could then post a message to Videonews asking for interest. Just an
idea...

Re Video Rating Guide for Libraries: I called ABC-CLIO earlier today to
check on our order of the Video Rating Guide on CD-ROM (which is a bargain,
by the way, at $125). While I was on the phone with them, I asked about
the rumor that the VRGL is ceasing publication. They would not confirm it,
but said it was probable. This is horrible news. I will be down to one
reviews source (excellent though it is) -- Video Librarian. I really don't
know of any alternatives. I have attended the National Film and Video Market
for the past few years, seeing previewing as a supplement to reading reviews.
Attending the Market will become essential for my video collection building.

We are beginning to buy multimedia CD-ROMs, but videocassette is still our
most important format and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
I really don't understand how this format could kill VRGL! -- at least at
this time.

I'm wondering it the demise of VRGL is a done deal or if there's anything
librarians can do...

Kristine Brancolini
Indiana University Libraries
brancoli@indiana.edu