--- Forwarded Message from Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 09:05:25 -0400
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum               <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5170.2 funds for video purchasing

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Having just taken over the Media Library (on top of the Language Learning
Center) video is on my mind....
I am part of OIR (=IT) and the Media Library (but not the LLC) offers
matching funds to departments that want to purchase videos & other goodies
for classroom use. The department chair has to ask for the items and pledge
the half, then we order it, catalogue it, and administer its use from the
Media Library. If it's language-related, the LLC can be used as a reserve;
otherwise, student access is via the library reserve. 

The LLC has never had funds to buy media. Usually when a department buys a
video it's kept in the department; when the depts. buy audio materials with
permission to copy, they want their originals back, and who can blame them
(except when they lose them)--alas, the poorest language dept. is the one
that most often is forced to purchase audio materials. 

More recently I've been allowed to purchase some software for the lab
computers, and there is also money for software for the language computer
classroom (which has its own administration & budget). And once I grew a
wild hair and bought a couple of TOEFL prep items that were badly needed,
pretending it was office supplies <grin>.  Now that I'm the media library
honcho I'm hoping we can use some of the matching funds for lab materials,
even though they are not for classroom use only.

I do in principle like the concept of matching funds because it implies a
committment to the materials--the likelihood that someone who asked for,
raised, or approved the funds will remember that the item is is the library
and use it. This doesn't always happen--I'm particularly aware of this re.
language materials!--but it's a good principle.

Judy