[Publib] Time to bide VHS goodbye?/CD audio books

[Andrea Berstler]

In addition to this - those who use the audiobooks for walking/running
prefer tapes, as do those who do not want to mess with trying to stop at the
"chapter" markings so they can find their place.  I have several patrons who
prefer tapes because they can stop it in their car, take it inside and pop
it into the tape player and it just starts where they left off. 
 
For many cars, CD's are still optional (and sometimes expensive).  For both
VHS and tapes, sometimes it is a question of what does the patron have
(perhaps given to them). We need to meet them where they are. 
 
We are not fixing VHS, but are welcoming donations with open arms and every
once in a blue moon buying one.  I purchase about 1/3 tapes in our audio
collection (my van only has a tape player and I cannot afford a new van nor
the several hundred dollars to install a CD player) 
 
While we want to embrace new technology (we are eagerly waiting the arrival
of online/downloadable books here) please do not create a barrier to use for
those of your patrons who are technologically challenged, financially
challenged or for what other reason cannot use the new stuff. 
 
Climbing down off my soapbox 
 
Andrea Berstler
Director - The Village Library of Morgantown
207 N Walnut St
Morgantown, PA 19543
www.villagelibrary.org
Preserving the Past . . . Preparing for the Future

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Dusty Gres
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:37 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Time to bide VHS goodbye?


When thinking about removing the audiotape book collection please realize
that it is not just whether or not the patron can or will update the
equipment -- sometimes it doesn't matter.  There are those of us who live in
areas where because of road conditions a cd player will not work in the car.
I live way out in the country with gravel & dirt roads and CD's do not work
in my car. There are many folks, like long-distance truckers, who rely on
tapes because CD's won't work in the trucks due to vibration (I understand
from my trucker patrons that refrigerator trucks are particularly bad).
My books on tape are checked out and used far, far more than the
cd's...advanced technology does not always mean better technology for all.

Dusty Gres, Director
Ohoopee Regional Library System
Hdq: Vidalia-Toombs County Library
610 Jackson Street
Vidalia, GA 30474
PH: (912) 537-9283
FAX: (912) 537-3735
EMAIL: gresd at ohoopeelibrary.org
WEB: http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org <http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org/> 
  

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Linda Cannon
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 9:56 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Time to bide VHS goodbye?


Yes, and I expect that most of our patrons will replace their VCRs w/DVD
players when they die, but some (due either to inertia, loyalty
to/familiarity with the technology, or poverty) still only have a VCR. We
have others in the same boat with respect to our audio collection. We no
longer buy audiotapes and have switched to only CD books, but we'll maintain
the tape collection until it dies a natural death because we have patrons
who only have tape players (and we still have extensive collections both of
VHS and audiotapes).
 

Linda Cannon, Collection Development Librarian
Joplin Public Library
300 S. Main St.
Joplin, MO  64801
417-623-7953
lcannon at joplinpubliclibrary.org
http://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org <http://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org/>  

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Kevin Mix
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 4:35 PM
To: Publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Time to bide VHS goodbye?


A quick search of walmart.com showed the cheapest VCR at just under 40
dollars, while the cheapest DVD player was just under 30. 

You hardly have to be Richie Rich to experience the DVD format. 


On 1/24/07, Linda Cannon <LCannon at joplinpubliclibrary.org> wrote: 

Oh, mercy! We wouldn't dream of getting rid of our VHS collections!
Perhaps in a more affluent area, it's not an issue, but we have *lots*
of patrons who still only have tape players and our DVD title list does 
not yet nearly match the variety in VHS. We are, of course, only buying
DVDs now, but we do add donated tapes.


Linda Cannon, Collection Development Librarian
Joplin Public Library
300 S. Main St.
Joplin, MO  64801
417-623-7953
lcannon at joplinpubliclibrary.org
http://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Ralph Tomlinson
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:10 PM 
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Time to bide VHS goodbye?

With new formats breathing down our collective necks, we're talking
about discarding (or selling off) our VHS collection. Anyone else done 
this? What was the customer reaction?

Ralph Tomlinson
Audio-visual/reference librarian
Adult Services
Olathe Public Library
201 E. Park Street
Olathe, KS 66061
(913) 971-6850
rtomlinson at olatheks.org

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