Videotape/DVD Collections
Regardless of whether we're talking about film, videotape, or DVD, it's helpful to examine the different categories of video. Read the contents of each of the following on-site links:
Video Producers
As you explore materials available on videotape and DVD, keep in mind that there are both large and small producers. Many of the large studios have specific distributors that handle their video production. Some of these include 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Artisan Home Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, Disney Home Video, MGM Home Entertainment, Miramax Home Video, and Warner Home Video. Producers specifically interested in informational, instructional, and educational video include PBS, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, BBC, and A&E Home Video. And large group of producers cater specifically to education such as Environmental Media, Hallmark Entertainment, New Dimension Media, Schlessinger Media, Spoken Arts, Weston Woods Studios. Check Distributors List for Current Children's Notables from ALA's Association for Library Service to Children for ideas. Finally, many small, independent producers create and market their own materials. This is particular true of "how-to" instructional videos. Many of the most popular videos can be found at Amazon or Barnes and Noble and other mainstream online vendors. For titles specific to libraries and education try, vendors such as Library Video.
Videotape to DVD Migration
Something most of you . . . maybe all of you might not know is that in the early 1980s, Annette managed the first video store in Ames, Iowa. That experience made her very aware of the wide range of technologies available as well as the variety of video interests. Back then consumers were dealing with the issue of Beta versus VHS, and a CED technology called the RCA SelectaVision VideoDisc (Before laserdisc) that only lasted a few years. The videodiscs were stored in large cartridges and looked like vinyl records. No one had players so they rented the player along with the videodisc.
Today, the migration from videotape to DVD is moving quickly. Although many more homes contain VCRs than DVD players, the purchasing trends are toward DVDs.
Besides the technical advantage of durability, DVDs have many more features including bonus video, information, and games. They often contain production documentaries, deleted segments, extra segments, and cast interviews. In addition, you'll find multiple language, closed captioning, commentary tracks, restored and expanded editions, traditional and widescreen versions, and high quality audio and video. Other features include weblinks and DVD-ROM materials such as games. Many DVDs contain parental controls.
Read the off-site article, Behind the Scenes... On Video, by Stuart Bayens of Stanley A. Milner Library about the advantages of the DVD format. What are the advantages to maintaining a videotape collection? How would you convince someone that it's time to shift from videotape to DVD?
Then, explore other related articles:
- How Long Does It take for Films to Appear on DVD? from DVD Review - Discussion of issue
- What Makes a Great DVD? from DVD Review - what makes the bonus materials useful?
- DVD Features from DVD Adept
Online
Video Information Resources
- CinemaSpot - Starting point for movie information including links and lists
- Digital Librarian: Movies - Links site
- Internet Movie Database (IMDb) - Great starting point for information about movies. Users can search by plot, characters, quotes, and other ways
- I
Saw It on TV: Film and Video Resources on the Web - Comprehensive
links site from Northwestern University Library
Related Websites
- All Movie Guide (AMG) - Information about movies and movie people.
- American Film Institute (AFI) - Awards, resources, information about film.
- Blockbuster - New releases and recommendations from one of the world's leading providers of videos, DVDs and video games.
- DVD Journal - DVD news, reviews, commentary, and stuff like that.
- DVD Review - DVD news, information, releases, and reviews.
- DVD Laser.com by Douglas Pratt - Online presence of the DVD-LaserDisc Newsletter.
- Greatest Films - Resource for classic film buffs contains interpretive and descriptive synopses, review commentary, film reference material, and historical background for hundreds of classic Hollywood and other American films in the last century.
- Hollywood.com - Features in-depth movie information, photos and reviews, showtime listings, entertainment news, and an extensive multimedia library.
- Moviefone - Largest movie listing guide and ticketing service in the country, site provides directory of movies, showtimes, theater locations and ticketing , and original movie content, news and reviews.
- TV
Guide - Program schedule plus news and information for
television and film.
What is it with those "region codes" on DVD videos? If you do not know what this means, read the off-site article Region Codes - DVD's Dirty Secret (Aug. 2004) from Home Theater About.com.
Video and Audio Review Sources - Although you can find reviews on many websites, it's a good idea to start with some traditional library review sources.
- Audiobooks for Young Adults from ALA - Selected for their appeal to a teen audience, the quality of their recording, and because they enhance the audience’s appreciation of any written work on which they may be based.
- Booklist from ALA - Search for video or audio for reviews
- Canadian Review of Materials from The Manitoba Library Association - Audio tapes and videos
- Children's Notables Lists from ALA
- Notable Children's Books from ALA's Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
- Notable Children's Videos from ALA's Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
- Selected DVDs and Videos for Young Adults from ALA - Annual DVD/Video list recognizes 10 productions for technical merit, content, and use with and interest to youth ages 12-18.
- Video Librarian Online - Video review magazine for public, school, academic, and special libraries
Reviews
- Children's Room - Reviews for books, software, movies, and audios
- CinemaSpot Links - Newspaper, Magazine, Internet, Television, and Parent Guide
- Critics.com - Movie review site
- Grading the Movies, Music & Games
- Movie and Family Video Reviews from U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Movie Review Query Engine by Stewart M. Clamen - Search engine for movie reviews
- Metacritic - search engine for film, video/dvd, music and game
- Screen It - Subscription video review site
Review the reviews. Look for the reviewer information and decide whether they would be a good source.
Guides for Viewing
- Family Movie Guide from The New York Times