IS 574:Audiovisual Services
Introduction
Audio-visual services or "sights and sounds" have become enormously
popular in the last decade. In some public libraries, this content
accounts for more than half of all the items that leave the library. It
is hard to imagine a strong public library without strong collections
and services in this area. This is a high demand service. AV budgets
have grown substantially in the last five years. In fact, increased
spending on AV content has sometimes reduced spending on print content.
Perhaps because they are book-like, libraries typically devote more
resources to audio books than videos or music. Music receives the least
attention.
Competition
Some public libraries have encountered problems because of charges that
the library unfairly competes with private enterprise. Curiously, this
argument did not encounter with books and periodical services. As a
result, some libraries have skewed their collections to focus on
content not otherwise available in the community. Others have had to
charge fees to lessen the charge of unfair competition. How would
you reespond to this charge? What steps would you take to reduce angry
comment?
Technology
Unlike the print collections where the need for technology is quite
limited, AV collections depend on playback equipment for access. This
means that the library will need to provide some playback equipment for
those who lack it. When to develop a collection in a particular format,
such as the forthcoming new DVD one, will depend on the widespread
availability of moderately priced playback equipment in the local
community. How would you know when that point was reached?
Since technology is essential, the library is also faced with periodic
changes in format. In some cases, this may make an entire collection
obsolete. For example, many libraries are eliminating their video tape
collections and replacing them with DVDs. In the near future, these may
need to be replaced by the newer DVD format. The perpetual problem of
obsolete formats or containers adds considerably to the cost of these
collections with replacement becoming an expensive issue. There is also
the problem that some older content will not be reissued in the new
format. For example, much of the music content on vinyl has not been
reissued in the CD format.
Technology can facilitate diverse collections for those with time and
effort. For example, free AV content may be downloaded from websites,
captured, made available locally, and preserved. One might ask if
the public library has some responsibility to archive AV content
produced locally, perhaps in a "dark archive."
24/7
Digital technology creates opportunities and challenges. For example,
content may be downloaded to laptops, PDAs, cell phones, and IPods.
Library programs and events may be recorded and made available to the
local community via Podcasting. The library may
become a content creator and distributor of content as well as a
purchaser of content. How might the demand for 24/7
access to library content impact the AV unit?
Integration or Segregation?
Although there are few integrated collections, the concept is worth
consideration. In an integrated collection, similar content regardless
of format would be shelfed together. This means that the gardening
films would be shelved next to the gardening books. Non-fiction AV is
more likely to be inter-shelved than fiction, but the science fiction
reader might well be interested in a science fiction film or a
collection of episodes from a science fiction video series. If content
is segregated by format, non-fiction would still be arranged on the
shelf by a DDC number and genres could receive spine tags. Which
approach is most likely to increase circulation or use? Could the
online public access catalog, guides or similar, bring the content
together for the prospective user? For print, should large print books
be housed separately? Assets and liabilities?
Purchase or Lease?
In the old days, just a few years ago, AV content was purchased. With
the increased availability of digital content, librarians have the
option, or in some cases no choice, in leasing content. In the sights
and sounds unit, we see this increasingly in large digital music
collections or in audio book collections where the library pays a fee
in order to allow its users to access server-based collections. This
eliminates the need for processing, storage, and perhaps weeding at the
end. At the same time, we don't need to worry about wear and tear
degrading audio quality. In the near future, collections of video
content are likely to be made available via large leased collections. What
are the major assets and liabilities of purchasing versus leasing?
Maintenance
Since content arrives in containers and since lending inevitably
results in wear and tear, the AV collection will need to be inspected
and maintained. In some cases, light repair will be possible. In other
cases, replacement will be required. This can be a problem with audio
books since the distributor may not provide individual cassettes versus
the entire set. Typically, libraries rely on users to report problems
since periodic inspections are too costly in time and effort. Some
provision should be made for light, local maintenance. Note that books
have been maintained and repaired for hundreds of years. AV material is
often more difficult to repair and replacement budgets may need to
receive more attention.
Circulation
Because of demand, most libraries limit the number of AV items that can
be checked out at once and also have a shorter loan period to allow
greater turn-over. Similarly, fines for overdues, damage, and loss are
often greater. Since users have borrowed audio books, video games, and
the like from retail outlets, they are used to overdue fees and limited
circulation periods. What is a reasonable circulation limit for
AV items?
The Future
The personal, portable, wireless playback device has received
considerable attention. Today, emphasis is on audio content, but video
content is likely in the future. With over ten million IPods sold and
in use, there will be increased demand for downloadable audio and
eventually video content. The digital rights management software and
the intellectual property issues may be substantial. Still, reasonable
arrangements of digital text and music content clearly indicate that
leased, downloadable content can work well for the library that can
afford it. Such arrangements will also minimize maintenance and
replacement problems. Apple's ITune's store includes a selection of
digital audio books via Audible.com. Unfortunately, traditional
audiobook distributors do not presently have an IPod compatible digeo
format. One public library now circulating audiobooked IPods includes a
case, a car adapter, an FM transmitter [for car use] and connection
cables. At the moment, loading content on the Ipods is labor-intensive.
Should we anticipate the future or wait until it is here?
Circulating Collections [typically arranged by medium, and then by
genre or topic]
Audio Books
While there are many issues related to audio books, including the
movement to a digital format, one basic concern is whether or not to
acquire only unabridged content or to also acquire abridged books. Some
listeners prefer abridged books because of the ease of listening. They
are also less expensive and cumbersome. Librarians typically prefer the
unabridged editions.
Most audio books are purchased rather than leased. Most of the books,
usually about two-thirds, are fiction. Interestingly, male listeners
are more likely to prefer non-fiction than women. Self-help and
business books are popular.
The CD format is increasingly popular, but librarians find the format
less available in many cars and some homes. Stopping and starting
[bookmarking] can also be a problem. However, there seems to be little
doubt that tape is the format of the past.
Since most audio books are heard while doing somthing else, often while
driving, the format needs to work with the playback equipment commonly
found at home and in the car. For example, if most people have CD
players in their cars, then the CD format makes sense.
The reader or narrator makes an enormous difference in the quality of
the listening experience. Serious audio book users will have favorites
and the AV librarian needs to be aware of this and select on the basis
of the reader as well as the book's content.
Audio books, rather like large print editions, need to be well linked
to the original work and may be an appropriate alternative for those
who would ordinarily read the text edition.
College courses, speeches and other audio content not typically found
in a book, will be found in a few public libraries. As copyright
allows, the library could also capture, make available, and preserve
podcasts, especially those created locally. When would you cease
acquiring and providing tape books?
Audio Sound
In general, libraries are less enthusiastic about audio sound.
Collections tend to stress standards, both in classical music, in
opera, in show tunes, and in musical performers and groups. Popular
music is often widely available in the community. Too, some popular
music has limited appeal to librarians, especially if it contains
"harsh languge" and is likely to be stolen. Digital collections,
especially for classical music are now available that could provide the
smallest public library with an astonishing array of content to offer
its users. However, this content may not be downloadable to portable
players.
Sound track recordings for films also held in the collection represent
a good cross-over opportunity.
What sort of an audio sound collection would you develop? Fill
gaps in the community?
Video Books
Because of wide-spread availability within the community, most public
libraries limit selections to classic films, and older feature films
[six months is often a reasonable cut-off]. Larger libraries,
usually in a metropolitan area, are more likely to also select foreign
films, non-fiction films [both instructional and documentary as well as
some travel ones]. Access to foreign films by language is important,
especially where the community contains members who speak that language.
While a few libraries may still have 8mm and 16mm films not otherwise
available, most video collections are limited to optical disks. The new
DVD format will soon be the format of choice for most films.
Traditionally, librarians have argued that the library had a special
responsibility to select films that otherwise would not be available in
the community. This means that independent, foreign, and documentary
films would receive more attention. To a lesser extent, how-to-do-it
instructional films would be selected. Feature films would receive
minimal attention. However, this is difficult to implement when there
is a substantial demand for feature films.
With the growing popularity of boxed sets containing the episodes of a
season of a classic TV show, these are being added to the video
collection and are often quite popular.
Given the increased visibility of "adult" language and themes, plus the
added impact of a visual presentation, community complaints and
censorship issues [including access by children and teens], are a
regular concern and must be addressed with thoughtful planning.
Most videos are purchased from the large wholesalers [Brodart or Baker
& Taylor, for example] and they are familiar with library needs.
Leasing services are not yet available for videos, but are likely in
the future.
What sort of a video collection should be developed for your
community?
Digital Games
At the moment, very few public libraries collect and circulate video
games. However, most of the retail outlets that rent film have rented
video games [but not computer games] for some time. Since a relatively
large proportion of gamers are adults, primarily men and younger rather
than older, this is a collection that would likely be popular in many
communities. Building on the low risk rationale for using the library,
this could be an opportunity to see if a game is worth a serious look
and purchasing.
Since games are often controversial for both sex and violence reasons,
this likely to be a medium that continues to be absent from the public
library. Still, worth a thought.
Would you develop a video game collection?
Images
Many public libraries, especially those with strong local history
collections, will have image collections. These usually consist of
photographic prints and negatives. Most will be in black and white, but
some may be in color. Slides are less likely to be found.
Intellectual access is often a problem since collections are more
likely to be identified than individual items. Preservation is also an
important concern, especially with the color prints since these fade
easily. Few libraries will have moving images on 8mm or 16 mm film but
that is possibile.
A few public libraries have used their image collections to create post
cards, local history albums, and the like. Strong image collections are
likely to be the first target for digitization. The well managed public
library will have a program for the acquisition, storage, preservation,
and digitization of images. Metadata provision is an important part of
this process.
Does your public library have image collections? How would you
characterize these special collections?
Microformats
Most public libraries have limited microformat collections.
Traditionally, such a collection was limited to backfiles of newspapers
usually found on reel microfilm. Microfilm was also used to preserve
some local documents and publications. Since public use is limited and
most users strongly dislike the medium, microfilm [although a better
preservation medium] has been replaced by digitization. Still, if
microformats are held, playback and photoduplication equipment needs to
be available in a comfortable setting and the equipment needs to work
well.
Does your library hold microformat materials?
Artifacts
While not widely held, some public libraries will have artifact
collections. These objects have usually been donated rather than sought
and may be used to decorate the library. In a few cases, libraries will
have framed art collections with items available for circulation.
Framed reproductions at a reasonable price may be purchased from
vendors. These are especially popular in communities with many renters.
Another possibility is to acquire reasonably priced art from local
artists for library display or even display.
While libraries are not museums, most libraries will have some realia
that is held and displayed in exhibits at certain times of the years.
The library's display/exhibit space is often highly visible and popular
with many groups, agencies, and organizations in the community. The
well managed public library will see that the exhibit/display space is
well used and that content changes frequently and that it is
professionally arranged.
Providing display space [must change frequently] for local artists,
craftspeople, and photographers is usually popular and generates much
good will.
Would a framed art collection be popular in your community? How
might you insure that library displays and exhibits enhance the visitor
or user experience?
Playback equipment
With the decline of interest in 8mm and 16mm films, most libraries have
reduced their stock of loanable playback equipment. Still, the library
should have appropriate playback equipment available for use within the
library and without. This means that a technician is need to keep the
equipment in good repair as well as fix problems when the equipment is
used in library meeting rooms.
As mentioned above, some libraries have been experimenting with
protable audio players, primarily for audiobooks but also for music.
Since the players are becoming better and less expensive, it may be
unnecessary to circulate the equipment in the future. Content should be
dowloadable directly to the users IPod or whatever.
What playback equipment should be available in your public library?
Contextual Content
There are many problems for increasing the AV experience by providing
supplementary or complementary content. For example, periodicals deal
with TV, film, music, or whatever media are important might be placed
near the medium. For example, film magazines might be shelved near the
films and music periodicals near the music. If there is a music room or
department, it might also include song books and some music scores.
The web pages for the AV formats should certainly include links to the
better sites for each medium collected. For example, the web pages for
the film collection should include links to the most useful film links,
including those that review films.
Would you place film periodicals near the film collection? Why?
The reference materials, including books and digital databases, for
these formats might also be placed near the media. Would it make
sense to have the music reference books in the music department or near
the circulating music collection?
Advisory Services
Althought advisory services have traditionally targetted readers, there
is no reason why "what would you like to read next" might be
transformed into "what would like to see next" or "what would you like
to hear next." Such help would require staff who were knowledgable
about a particular medium and a particular genre or category. For
example, one would need to be familar with opera to be able to suggest
a good next choice for someone who has just enjoyed Carmen.
Staff picks are another good way to advise patrons on good
selections. User picks can also work well if monitored.
Themed best lists, i.e. Christmas films or railroad songs, require
some time and effort but are usually reusable. Such lists should
include appropriate media from a variety of formats. Think of what
might be done with the anniversary of the releast of the film version
of Gone With the Wind or the Wizard of Oz. Displays, exhibits, and
contests can also work well. Displays and exhibits can be built around
themed lists, often with community support.
Websites, when thoughtfully selected, provide considerable advice.
For example, there are several classical music sites that suggest the
best recording of a particular musical work.
Information about local musical events and groups is another example
of the library's grass rootness and its nature as a cultural agency.
Programs
Althugh programs and progamming is another topic, sights and sounds
lend themselves to a rich variety of programs. Films at the library or
at other location have long been popular. Film may be used as a
stand-alone program or as part of another program.
Musical events at the library are less common, but are also popular,
especially as a way to showcase community musical groups and
organizations.
Exhibits and displays of community created art and crafts supplement
programs on these same topics.
What sort of programs with a substantial sights and sounds
component would be popular in your library?
Last major revision: September
2005.
