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Sylvia, hope you don't mind me posting this reply @ lis-pub-libs. I've had many comments and enquiries following my email about the long-term reliability of the DVD format, so this is a good opportunity to summarise what I've learnt and to thank everyone concerned for taking the time to get in touch with me. It seems that most library authorities with DVD collections are satisfied with both the suitability of the format as lending library stock and its popularity with their users. (Here in Newham they're just as popular). One or two authorities feel that some library users' unfamiliarity with the format leads them to report non-existent faults. For instance, it could be that they were attempting to play DVDs in PC CDROM drives - believe me, mistakes like this do happen - or it may be the often suspect performance of DVD ROM drives which are now installed in many PC systems. I'd go along with this last observation. I check our allegedly faulty DVDs on my work PC's DVD ROM drive and have found the performance of this player to be temperamental and perplexing. Software bugs, hardware and software conflicts can make DVD ROM drives a good deal less stable than stand-alone DVD players. I'm told the following is a website which has advice on dealing with these technicalities:- http//freespace.virgin.net/jonathan.prince/ For all that, there's no question that the format IS extremely sensitive to mishandling: a few playing surface scratches that usually wouldn't affect a CD can make DVDs unplayable in many machines. Undoubtedly you've got to be vigilant and careful, always checking the discs on issue and return and preferably storing the discs in plastic sleeves when they're not out on loan. You can also use special, self-adhesive overlays on the discs to protect against scratches (which begs the questions, what happens when these have to be replaced? Do they peel off easily? Will gummy residue accumulate?) Personally I remain a bit sceptical about DVDs. Unlike computer hard drives which are vacuum sealed away from grubby fingers, DVD discs - storing equally huge amounts of data - have got to be plucked out of cases and plonked in drive trays and so on and so forth. Wear and tear is inevitable...Will they succumb to it far sooner than, say, the scarred, stuttering CDs you tend to hear in pubs? -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 11 August 2000 13:28 To: Noel Kavanagh Subject: DVDs i was shown a copy of your email which you sent in july concerning the durability of DVDs and wondered if you got many replies. Middlesbrough libraries are considering setting up a DVD collection and I would be grateful if you would share any information/problems gained from your enquiry. thanks Sylvia Reynolds Education Support/Media Librarian ********************************************************************** Important: This e-mail is intended for the above named person only and should be treated as confidential. If this has come to you in error you should take no action based on it, nor should you copy or show it to anyone; please telephone us immediately. ********************************************************************** %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%