[Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section

Thu Apr 12 12:00:15 EDT 2007

I'm trying to track this, reporting within Cites & Insights
http://citesandinsights.info <http://citesandinsights.info/> 

Periodically on what seems to be happening or not happening with hi-def
discs (Blu-ray and HD DVD).

I'd agree with Norm; at least for 2007, very few libraries should be
considering either Blu-ray or HD DVD except for college libraries in
colleges with film schools.

If you assume that a reasonable starting point is when adoption goes
from innovators to early adopters (thus, about 3% of households),
neither format is even close yet within the U.S.

The next issue of Cites & Insights, probably out this weekend, will
include an update on this. 

Right now, if I had to bet, here's what I'd say:

-Blu-ray has a better chance of becoming semi-mainstream (for reasons I
discuss in the essay), but it's by no means a sure thing.

-Neither format has real momentum at this point. It's entirely possible
that both will be equivalent to SACD and DVD-Audio for at least years to
come (and if you don't know what that means, that tells you how much
impact those to Sure Fire Replacements for CDs have had).

Not discussed extensively this time around, but:

-A number of developments may make "when to adopt/which to adopt" issues
less significant.

-You may already be buying some hi-def discs; at least one studio is
turning out two-sided discs with DVD on one side, one or the other
hi-def format on the other.

-The good news: The price for hi-def discs won't be significantly more
than for regular DVDs (maybe a $5 differential)

-Blu-ray discs ***may*** be more scratch-resistant than DVDs. Or they
may not: Not proven yet.

For now, don't worry about them. Maybe next year. Maybe not.

Walt Crawford

Senior Analyst, OCLC RLG Service Center

650-691-2227

crawforw at oclc.org <mailto:crawforw at oclc.org> 

M-F 7-4 Pacific Time

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Reeder, Norm
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 8:43 AM
To: Wolferman, Stephanie; publib
Subject: RE: [Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section

My answer isn't going to be scientific here.  One of the things I watch
for is the "Christmas Season".  What is the hottest new technology
seller for that season.  That's when a lot of players are purchased.
When one or the other formats (there are now two competing formats, and
blu-ray is only one) finally gets enough market share to become mass
market, then we begin to invest and change there. Generally the players
have to be under $500 for them to become mass market items.

Right now we aren't buying either of the two formats as few people have
the players and there aren't that many titles out yet.  It's the same
old "which came first the chicken or the egg?" Thing.  People don't buy
the players because there aren't many discs out.  Disc makers don't
flood the market with new format discs because there aren't many players
to play them yet.  There has to be a kind of build up so there's enough
mass market support for one format or the other.  Blu-Ray is being
helped by being included in the Sony game player box.  But there are
also big names behind the other format too.  

Thanks

Norm

Norm Reeder

Library Services Manager

Torrance Public Library

3301 Torrance Blvd

Torrance, CA 90503

310-618-5950

________________________________

From: Wolferman, Stephanie [mailto:wolfstep at dom.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 6:44 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section

Hi, this is Stephanie again.  I am the only who originally asked the
question, about changing the formats in your library's AV section and
decisions about what to keep on the floor, and I just want to thank
everyone for getting back to me.  Not to continue to bother everyone,
but I just wanted to have a follow up question, and if anyone could
answer it, it would be great.

When looking at a film collection in the AV department, when do you
start to invest in new technology?  For instance, I see a lot of
advertisement for films now in formatted with blue ray technology.  I
started to do research on the topic, and was wondering if anyone has
invested in blue ray DVDs, and how did you come to that decision.
Harking back to the days when DVDs were new, when did you decide that
DVDs were worth investing in?  

Thank you for the help!  

From,

Stephanie

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