Dear Colleague,
I am writing to request your assistance with the following survey aimed
specifically at academic media centers and/or collections. I am the new media
services librarian at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and
although I have experience with media services at the high school level, I am
trying to become more familiar with media services at academic institutions.
The survey is divided into three parts with a section on the history of the
media center/collection, the current policies and functions of the media
center, and the way in which Internet technologies have changed media
librarianship. Please take the time to help me out, I would greatly appreciate
it. I don't have a specific time frame in mind, but sometime in the next couple
of weeks would be the most helpful so that I can tabulate the results. Please
forgive any duplication if you happen to receive a print copy of this as well.
Responses can be emailed to me directly or printed and mailed to:
Mary S. Laskowski
University Library
Undergraduate Library
1402 West Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
mkschnei@uiuc.edu
Thank you for your time,
Mary
History of the Media Center/Collection
Please define your institution (please check all that apply):
_____ University _____ public
_____ College _____private
_____ Junior College
What is the approximate undergraduate enrollment at your institution?
_____ <5,000
_____ 5,000-10,000
_____ 10,000-20,000
_____ 20,000-30,000
_____ >30,000
Is your media collection physically separate or integrated into a monographic
or serial collection?
_____ Integrated
_____ Partially integrated
_____ Separate
Is the media center/collection part of the campus library system?
_____ No, completely separate entity
_____ Affiliated with but not bound by library rules and policies
_____ Yes, part of the campus library system
_____ Other, please specify
What are the major components of your media collection? (please check all that
apply)
_____ 1/2 in. VHS
_____ 3/4 in. U-matic
_____ audio cassettes
_____ 1/2 in. Beta (all formats)
_____ laser discs
_____ slides
_____ DVD
_____ filmstrips
_____ CED
_____ PAL
_____ CD-ROM
_____ SCAM
_____ 16 mm reels
_____ 8 mm reels
_____ 35 mm reels
_____ audio reel-to-reel
_____ DAT carts or tapes
_____ other computer discs
_____ Other, please specify _____________________
Does your media center have play-back equipment for the formats in the
collection?
_____ Yes to all
_____ No to all
_____ Yes for heavily used and/or current formats
_____ Equipment available elsewhere on campus
_____ Other, please specify ______________________
What format was the basis of the original collection?
_______________________________
(ex: 16 mm films)
Approximately when was a distinct media center and/or collection developed at
your institution? ________
What was the founding principle of the media collection at your institution?
(please check all that apply)
_____ Instructional support
_____ Recreational
_____ Staff development
_____ Archives
_____ Research
_____ Other, please specify _____________________
From its conception has the media center/collection usage become more…(please
check all that apply)
_____ Instructional support
_____ Recreational
_____ Staff development
_____ Archives
_____ Research
_____ Other, please specify _____________________
How was the media center/collection initially funded?
_____ Donations
_____ University/College funding
_____ Departmental funding
_____ Private or corporate sector funding
_____ Other, please specify
Current Implementations
How many hours a week is the media center/collection open? _____
What is the approximate total current holding in the media collection? _____
What is the estimated growth of the collection since its inception? _____
At this time, what formats are primarily being collected in media? (please list
top three)
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
How is the majority of collection development currently funded?
_____ Donations
_____ University/College funding
_____ Departmental funding
_____ Private or corporate sector funding
_____ Other, please specify
How do you track collection usage statistics?
_____ We don’t
_____ Manual tally
_____ Retrieval of online catalog and/or database data
_____ Other, please specify _____________________
What are the circulation/loan policies for the media collection? (please check
all that apply)
_____ Outside loan to all patrons
_____ Outside loan to faculty only
_____ Outside loan to faculty only for instruction
_____ Interlibrary loan
_____ In-house viewing only
_____ In-house viewing for students and non-instructional faculty including
staff
_____ Fee-based viewing
_____ Non-fee based viewing
_____ Other, please specify __________________________________________
How does the media center help safeguard from copyright infringement?
_____ Don’t ask, don’t tell policy
_____ Posted signs
_____ Formal written agreement with patron
_____ Complete non-outside circulation policy
_____ Verbal confirmation
_____ Other, please specify __________________________________________
Are the bibliographic records for media integrated into an online catalog which
encompasses all of the collection?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Is there a separate database or online catalog maintained for the media
collection?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If yes, is it searchable by the public either through designated terminals or
through the web?
_____ No
_____ Yes, on the web
_____ Yes, through designated terminals
_____Other, please specify _________________
If yes, who maintains the database or catalog?
_______________________________________
If yes, how often is it updated?
_____ Daily
_____ Weekly
_____ Monthly
_____ Quarterly
Does your database and/or online catalog (not necessarily one specific to
media) allow media staff to perform the following functions? (please check all
that apply)
_____ on-site viewing reservations
_____reservations for outside loan
_____ course reserve notices
_____current status checking
_____ view items on order
_____ search by title
_____ search by director
_____ search by specific format
_____ search by cast
_____ search by language
_____ search by date
_____ subject searching
_____ patron status
_____ patron contact information
_____ compile usage statistics
_____ scheduling of specific units for on-site viewing
_____ compile overdue/fine notices
_____ distinguish between academic vs. recreational viewing
_____ plot equipment maintenance
_____ archive data for historical comparison
_____ Other items of interest, please specify
____________________________________
What, if any, of these functions are available directly to patrons? (please
check all that apply)
_____ on-site viewing reservations
_____reservations for outside loan
_____ course reserve notices
_____current status checking
_____ view items on order
_____ search by title
_____ search by director
_____ search by specific format
_____ search by cast
_____ search by language
_____ search by date
_____ subject searching
_____ patron status
_____ patron contact information
_____ compile usage statistics
_____ scheduling of units for on-site viewing
_____ compile overdue/fine notices
_____ distinguish between academic vs. recreational viewing
_____ plot equipment maintenance
_____ archive data for historical comparison
_____ Other items of interest, please specify
____________________________________
Impact of Internet Technologies
Does your media center offer Internet access to patrons?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Does your media center maintain a web presence?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Is the media collection searchable through the web?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Do the media web pages (if applicable) offer links to other institutions media
centers and/or production and distribution information?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Has access to the Internet changed the way you make your purchasing decisions?
Not at all Somewhat Very much
1 2 3 4 5
Are you more likely to order from distributors who maintain a searchable web
catalog or traditional print catalog?
_____ searchable web catalog
_____ traditional print catalog
_____ no preference
Are you or your acquisitions department able to place orders directly through
the Internet?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If yes, has this significantly improved the turn-around time between order and
arrival?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If no, is this a capability you would like to have?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Does your media center make use of Internet technology to offer video-on-demand
type services?
_____ Yes
_____ No
If yes, what percentage of the total media collection is offered this way?
__________
If yes, was this done in house or through a vendor?
_____ in house
_____ vendor, please specify ________________________
If no, is this a service you hope to be able to provide in the future?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Has access to the Internet significantly changed the way media reference
services are handled?
____ Yes
____ No
If yes, what aspects are the most beneficial to you? (please rank top three)
_____ listservs
_____ distributor/vendor pages
_____ commercial movie databases
_____ access to collections at other institutions
_____ technical glossaries and specifications online
_____ online reference tools such as Leonard Maltin’s Video Review
_____ Other, please specify _______________________
Thanks again,
Mary S. Laskowski
Assistant Undergraduate Librarian, Coordinator of Media Services and
Cataloging, and Assistant Professor of Library Administration
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign