Although the growing presence of streaming technology has changed the way audiovisual materials appear at the library, robust DVD collections are still a large part of both public and academic libraries. So, what is the best way to organize a DVD collection at the library? Explore your options on open vs closed shelving and the ways to categorize your DVD collection in order to optimize it for library customers.
History of Closed Stacks
So, what is the original way to store audiovisual collections? In Barbara J. Bergman’s “Making the Most of Your Video Collection: Trends in Patron Access and Resource Sharing”, Bergman explains, “The historical model for audiovisual collections at colleges and universities has been that of a reserve collection where films were purchased at faculty request as classroom support, held in closed stacks for immediate availability to faculty while student access was limited, and rarely was resource sharing through interlibrary loan allowed.” This “closed stacks” model arose when film collections were mainly seen as classroom support at libraries, and 16mm films and viewing equipment were delivered to schools by media services. Although the need for this system has vanished, many libraries continue to house their DVD collections in closed stacks.
Browsable Open Shelving
The open shelving model has grown more popular in recent years. For some, this change is logistical, brought about by limited space in closed stacks and limited staff to retrieve materials for library patrons. However, open shelving can also make libraries more browsable and user-friendly. In a 2019 survey, “Survey of Classification and Organization of Video-recordings”, all of public librarians polled stated that they keep their DVDs in open shelving. Despite the popularity of this model, one of its major drawbacks is the issue of theft. Although new security technology and protocols have limited the amount of theft in recent years, many libraries still struggle with the theft of audiovisual materials. Therefore, many libraries opt for a mix of open and closed shelving methods for their DVD collections.
Mixed Methods
Some libraries, like the Donnelley and Lee Library, incorporate the browsing aspect of an open shelf library with the security of closed stacks, with empty DVD cases on library shelves and the discs behind the Circulation Desk to be checked out upon request. Some librarians choose to keep educational DVDs that tend to be more expensive in closed stacks, with popular fiction titles in open stacks. In “Survey of Classification and Organization of Video-recordings”, half of the academic librarians stated that they store their DVDs in open shelving, with 20% of academic librarians reporting that they use a mix of open and closed stacks.
Categorizing: Nonfiction vs Fiction DVDs
So, once DVDs are put on open or closed shelves, how are they categorized? The multiple format changes from VHS, to DVD, to Blu-Ray, have actually benefitted some librarians, as it created the chance to properly reclassify new materials as they were added to the collection. In “Survey of Classification and Organization of Video-recordings”, most librarians reported that they choose to organize their nonfiction titles by either the Library of Congress System or the Dewey Decimal System. However, there is not a single way librarians choose to classify fiction DVDs. The multiple classifications of title, genre, and year of release present many challenges in optimizing organization to benefit library patrons. However, in all of the libraries polled, it is clear that the differences in organization methods aim to make collections understandable for library patrons’ unique needs.
Conclusion
The most important aspect to consider when organizing a DVD collection is the usability for library patrons. Although popular methods work for other libraries, each collection is unique and should be tailored to fit the needs of specific library.
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