Video Acquisitions and Cataloging:
A Handbook
by James C. Scholtz
A Review
James C. Scholtz has written a very useful "how-to" handbook for
librarians dealing with the vagaries and unfathomable pricing
structures of video acquisitions. Mr. Scholtz has written a couple of
books and many articles on videos in libraries, and displays
a thorough knowledge of the video industry and the problems librarians
will encounter in building video collections. The book's
title is a bit misleading as it is heavily weighted on the acquisitions
side and only one chapter is devoted to special
considerations in cataloging videocassettes. Nevertheless, this is a
valuable handbook.
The first three chapters give an overview of the history of the video
industry (with a timeline of events which especially pertain
to the selection and acquisition of videos by libraries), an overview of
the development of different videocassette markets, and
a detailed study of vendors and distribution routes. These three chapters
give the librarian an insight into how videos are priced,
how to shop around for the best deal and how to make the system work for
the library. Most useful is the information on how
different vendors' marketing strategies work and how the libraries can
tailor their video acquisitions policies to get the most for
their money. Copyright and use rights are dealt with in chapter 5 in a
manner that librarians who are not well versed in these
subjects will find easy to understand and helpful. Chapter 4 deals with
the acquisitions process and has little that pertains
specifically to videos. Chapter 6 provides guidance to special problems
inherent in cataloging and providing access to
videocassettes. The book has many useful examples of processing forms,
copyright agreements, etc. which could be adapted
to individual libraries' needs.
Although most of the examples used in the book come from public libraries,
the information can be translated to any kind of
library. This book will be most useful to a librarian or acquisition
department that is new to video acquisitions or looking to
rationalize an ad hoc policy. The author's detailed knowledge of the video
industry and his practical advice to librarians will be
most appreciated.
Published in 1995 by: Greenwood Press, Westport, CT (184 p.) $55.00 ISBN:
0-313-29345-7.
Reviewed by Jeffrey Holland
University of Nevada, Reno
Last updated: April 8, 2003
http://www.olacinc.org/reviews/scholtz.html
neumeist@buffalo.edu