October 13, 2009

Question:

Genny Carter, TN

The question below seems to be related to earlier questions about downloadables.  How shall I answer them?

The library subscribes to MyLibrary DV for Downloadable tv shows and movies.  Do I count it as a database since it is a subscription service?

IMLS Response:

The answer to Genny's original question can be found on the Wiki: http://plsc.pbworks.com/Downloadables-and-Catalogs

Count these shows and movies as a part of element 453 (Video) if they are accessible through the library’s OPAC.

The current definition of a database is “…a collection of electronically stored data or unit records (facts, bibliographic data, abstracts, texts) with a common user interface and software for the retrieval and manipulation of the data.”  Strictly speaking, downloadable audios, e-books and videos do not meet this definition because the user is not manipulating the data for retrieval, so it would not be appropriate to categorize them as such.

Diana Very, GA

In our survey we have a place for databases and a place for electronic subscription services so we would put that product as an electronic subscription. service.

Michael Golrick, LA

I have a pending email, which asks what I interpret to be the same question. Here is how the Louisiana library framed the question:

Our library recently started providing access to OverDrive to our patrons and I have a question about how to report OverDrive circulation statistics when we do our state report. Our patrons have access to audiobooks, eBooks, music, and video through OverDrive. Where do we include the circulation statistics for each of these categories on the state report. Do they all go under “Other”? Do we count these just as we would items in our physical collection?

Susan Mark, WY

I thought the distinction was whether the downloadable audio & video items were in the catalog or not. So for us, our Netlibrary eAudiobook titles have records in the catalog, therefore they count as titles on our audio, and we count the titles under audio and we include it in our circulation. For MyLibraryDV (when we had it - recently discontinued), the only way to find out what titles were in the database was to go directly to MyLibraryDV, therefore it was a database, and its use did not count under circulation.

I've said it before, and will say it again -- lumping physical & electronic audio together (and video as well) produces nothing but absolutely useless numbers. Putting the two together is like comparing apples and sledgehammers. Knowing that every library has "a gazillion" video titles tells me nothing about the struggling library that desperately needs to update its AV. At the state level, I split it into physical and electronic, but we don't do that at the national level. I'd like to see us do that.