ACCESS ANSWERS: A DIGEST OF LISTSERVS OF INTEREST TO ACCESS SERVICES

摘要

One interesting thread on CIRCPLUS this installment had to do with how to best manage a video collection. One of the posters was about to inherit a number of videos and she wanted some expert advice. Almost all responded that they keep their videos in a separate collection. A few libraries had tried mixing them in with the book collection by call number, but they had found that patrons frequently wanted to browse the A-V items only and that having books and videos mixed was a hindrance. Some libraries kept their video collection on open shelves where patrons could browse, while others kept theirs in closed stacks areas for security reasons. The security system in place at some libraries could accommodate videos, but in others the magnetic workings of the system would not allow the security system to work properly. A creative variation in use by two of the responders was to put the empty video storage boxes in a place where they could be browsed while housing the videos themselves in a closed stack area. Checkout times varied, although most had a shorter period than books. At the long end was one month and at the short end was one day. Two weeks was the most popular.