DVD Guidelines

Douglas County Libraries sees its DVD holdings as an important extension of the print materials collections and criteria for the selection is the same as those used by the library for all types of material. Selections are intended to meet the educational, recreational, cultural, and informational needs of the community and must meet high standards of quality in content, expression, and format. Preference is given to the purchase of new titles but available older titles in high demand may be purchased or replaced.

When considering DVDs for purchase, review journals and online sources are consulted. Consideration is given to purchase suggestions made by library users and staff. Selection will also be dictated by the current availability of materials and the limitations imposed by budget.

Feature Films (fiction) The collection contains a wide selection of feature films, including current high interest titles, classics, and foreign films to meet the recreational needs of the community. Critically acclaimed films will be emphasized in addition to award winners including major national, international, and Academy Awards.

The intended audience for children’s films is preschool through grade six. Selections are based on current high-interest titles as well as those relevant and useful to children’s everyday needs and activities. Priority will be given to titles based on a published novel and will be selected from quality producers.

Non-fiction titles will be selected from a wide variety of sources, including regularly consulted review publications and supplier catalogs. Informational titles include documentaries and such popular subjects as hobbies, home repair, travel, fitness, cooking and parenting. The district does not purchase DVDs produced specifically for instructional use in classrooms, reality programming, or titles available only through websites.

Television programs Priority is given to programs that have educational value such as history, biography, travel, and documentary titles or programs that are adapted from a published book or classic television. Quality producers such as A&E, the BBC, History Channel, Hallmark, HBO, and PBS also receive higher priority. The district will buy television series that have won or been nominated for a major award. Special consideration will be given to popular animated series for children.

Occasionally new A-V media forms are introduced into the market place. These will be studied carefully to assess their suitability for public library use and sufficient time will be allowed to determine whether they will receive widespread and lasting public acceptance before collections of such new forms are added to the library.

The District will not be responsible for any damage to patron’s DVD players, computers or other playing devices that occur while using DCL DVDs.