New Versus Old
We had a customer recommend that we get more new DVD's. I get this complaint a lot and it's always a touchy subject. The library is not supposed to be Blockbuster and it's never a good idea to use tax money to compete with local businesses. On the other hand we can't abandon an important collection just because a video rental store opens up in town. The Library was here first.
A video rental business is a library that charges fees for services and their purpose is to make a profit but a public library has a different mission. While the Library does have materials for the recreation of Rogers Citizens, the library also collects materials for the education and information of our residents. Would you go to Blockbusters for research? Homework? Business Reference? Blockbusters doesn't purchase materials for research but the Library does. That's one of our more important missions.
So what's the big deal about DVD's, you say?
Movies, Television, newsreels, serials, and concerts are all a part of American cultural history. Consider Star Trek. "Beam me up Scottie" may easily be the misquoted line since "Play it again Sam." Cultural references to Star Trek abound in baby boomer culture just like references to Rudolf Vanentino's "the Sheik" had the same cultural significance to the "Flapper" generation of the Roaring 20's. Television and movies are just as important in spreading cultural concepts as ancient sagas and musical ballads.
It's not just movies making an impact on culture. It's Movies that define a generation. My favorite example is the Maltese Falcon. If you want to get a feel for the American generation that fought WWII, several lines from the end of the movie define the Hardboiled generation. When Sam Spade is telling Bridgid O'Shaughnessy why he is turning her over to the police he says:
"When a man's partner is killed he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it." Later he says. "Don't be too sure I'm as crooked as I'm supposed to be. That kind of reputation might be good business-bringing in high-priced jobs and making it easier to deal with the enemy." This is the essence of hardboiled, street tough but noble, the urban cowboy.
I want all the DVD's I buy to fly off the shelves but at the same time my job is to find collect and store those movies, films, television shows, and videos that define who we are as a people and have them here for all the residents of Rogers.
A video rental business is a library that charges fees for services and their purpose is to make a profit but a public library has a different mission. While the Library does have materials for the recreation of Rogers Citizens, the library also collects materials for the education and information of our residents. Would you go to Blockbusters for research? Homework? Business Reference? Blockbusters doesn't purchase materials for research but the Library does. That's one of our more important missions.
So what's the big deal about DVD's, you say?
Movies, Television, newsreels, serials, and concerts are all a part of American cultural history. Consider Star Trek. "Beam me up Scottie" may easily be the misquoted line since "Play it again Sam." Cultural references to Star Trek abound in baby boomer culture just like references to Rudolf Vanentino's "the Sheik" had the same cultural significance to the "Flapper" generation of the Roaring 20's. Television and movies are just as important in spreading cultural concepts as ancient sagas and musical ballads.
It's not just movies making an impact on culture. It's Movies that define a generation. My favorite example is the Maltese Falcon. If you want to get a feel for the American generation that fought WWII, several lines from the end of the movie define the Hardboiled generation. When Sam Spade is telling Bridgid O'Shaughnessy why he is turning her over to the police he says:
"When a man's partner is killed he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it." Later he says. "Don't be too sure I'm as crooked as I'm supposed to be. That kind of reputation might be good business-bringing in high-priced jobs and making it easier to deal with the enemy." This is the essence of hardboiled, street tough but noble, the urban cowboy.
I want all the DVD's I buy to fly off the shelves but at the same time my job is to find collect and store those movies, films, television shows, and videos that define who we are as a people and have them here for all the residents of Rogers.
posted by Rob Finch at 9:13 AM
2 Comments:
I think documentaries would be a great category to expand! The local video stores have very few so the competition would be minimal.
Some ideas:
"Paradise Lost 1 & 2" (I think you already have one of these)-about the murders at Robin Hood Hills in West Memphis
"One Day in September"-about the terrorist murders of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics
"Paris Is Burning"-an interesting look at the tight-knit community of minority drag queens living in New York City.
"How's Your News?"-five members of Camp Jabberwocky, a summer camp where those with major mental and physical challenges are given the task to drive around the country and work as field reporters.
"Life and Times of Frida Kahlo"-self explanatory
"Paragraph 175"-about the Third Reich's vicious persecution of male homosexuals during World War II.
"What I Want My Words to Do to You"-Female inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women perform a series of writing exercises and discussions that culminates in a prison performance of the women's writings by Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei and Rosie Perez
"OT: Our Town"-the students at Dominguez High School set out to put on the school's first theatrical production in more than 20 years: Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."
"It Was a Wonderful Life"-follows the lives of six "hidden homeless" women as they struggle to survive living out of their cars.
I have seen each of these and think they would be a great addition to the library. They are all available on Netflix if you'd like to see more.
Thanks for the Blog!
-Sarah
I reviewed your requests. There are several that I will add to the collection and I will consider the others as the budget allows.
Rob
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