[Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section

[Iris Jones]

I am not clear what you are asking. Are you referring to a library
discarding everything it owns in one format and purchasing new materials in
the new format? Or somehow transferring their existing collection to the new
medium?

In my experience, most libraries phase out one medium as they begin
acquiring the new one. There is a period of time when both collections exist
side by side. As the new medium becomes more popular and more volumes are
acquired, the library quits buying the older format. Eventually the new
collection is of a size that allows the library to weed or totally discard
the original collection.

Copyright, cost, time and sometimes technology make the second option --
transferring content to the new medium -- impractical.


Iris I. Jones
Library Consultant
Southeast Kansas Library System
218 E. Madison
Iola, KS 66749
(620) 365-5136
(800) 279-3219
Fax (620) 265-5127
ijones at sekls.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Wolferman, Stephanie [mailto:wolfstep at dom.edu]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 8:49 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section


I am a library student looking into the details about how to change film
formats (like VHS to DVD) in a public library.  I am asking if anyone has an
advice about the change, and if anyone has any experience in this field?  I
am especially interested in the process, whether it should be done all at
once (which could result in a nervous breakdown on the staff's end), or
phased in over a couple of years?
Any help would be appreciated!