Hi,

We recently posted a request for information to lis-link
concerning storage and security for DVDs in libraries. The
following is a brief summary of the responses that we received. I
will be sending more detailed feedback to those that responded
and would be happy to do this on request for anyone else that is
interested.

14 libraries responded, all using one or more of the three broad
approaches that we had identified for ourselves (see below for
details), and for each option, at least one library had changed to
it after finding another unsatisfactory. As you will see, there are
pros and cons to each option and, sadly, no clear 'winner'
emerged from this survey, although we feel that it has clarified
and confirmed the issues involved. We are now currently
inclining towards an open access tattle-tape based solution with
a small selection of heavily used (and therefore highest risk)
stock on closed access in their original cases behind the issue
desk for extra security. We hope that this mixed approach will
give us the right balance of security and ease of use.

Specific responses were as follows:

   * Keep stock on closed access (usually at an issue desk) *

5 respondents use this approach (2 with cases on display).
Of these, 1 keeps the disks in their cases and is considering
lockable cases as an alternative to save space.
This option seems to be the most secure, but is not very user-
friendly for borrowers and is potentially time- and space-
consuming for staff. Equipment costs are likely to be low.

   * Keep stock on open access secured by lockable external
cases *

3 respondents use this approach.
Of these, 1 changed to this from tattle-tape for commercially
bought DVDS because of playability problems and theft but still
use tattle-tape only for inhouse DVD recordings, 2 trigger all
DVDS as well as using lockable cases, and 2 agree that there
are space and handling problems with this approach.
This option seems to be high on security and reasonably user-
friendly for borrowers, but can cause space and handling
problems both on the shelves and at issue desks. Equipment
costs are likely to be high.

   * Keep stock on open access secured by specialised tattle-
tape triggers *

6 respondents use this approach (with 2 non-respondents also
referred to as sources of advice).
Of these, 1 changed to this from lockable cases because of
handling difficulties at the Issue Desk, 1 is becoming concerned
about 'unacceptable levels of loss' which they suspect to be
because DVDS are easy to hide amongst personal property and
hard to find when exit alarms are set off, and 1 has moved their
DVDs into a more secure Heavy Demand area because of
losses experienced on open access.
This option seems to be viewed as acceptably secure by most
users, and is probably the most user-friendly for both borrowers
and staff, treating DVDs in the same way as books. Some loss,
however, is reported. Equipment costs are likely to be low, at
least for libraries already using tattle-tape for book security.

Sue Grant for:

Colin Beney
Circulation Librarian
Main Library
Queen Mary, University of London

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(Tel: 020 7882 3311)