DVDs Fast-Forward, Pass VCR Consumer Sales

"Consumers pushed the "stop" button on VCRs in 2002 and resoundingly hit "play" for DVD machines, marking a decisive blow in this increasingly one- sided home entertainment battle, industry sales figures showed.

American consumers purchased 17 million DVD players last year, compared to 13.5 million VCR decks, according the Consumer Electronics Association, the industry trade group that monitors such sales.

DVD players began to outsell VCRs in September of 2001, spiking up to a December holiday-season edge of 1.8 million DVDs to 1.3 million VCRs. But by this holiday season, the contest was a December blowout, with DVDs outselling VCRs 2.3 million to 1.1 million....

Wargo predicted VCRs would be off the shelves by about 2010." [NY Post, via Gizmodo]

I hope your library has begun circulating DVDs. I wish my home library could, but they have no space for any new collections, so that will have to wait until after their referendum passes (fingers and toes crossed for this coming April).

One of my SLS libraries, Downers Grove Public Library, is really running with one of ALA's PR themes, Get Caught Reading:

"We are excited to announce Get Caught Reading—a year-long book and reading celebration! Get Caught Reading promises to be a fun-filled year of reading, contests, programs, and events for the entire family. Each month we’ll feature a different topic with special book displays and booklists. We want you to participate!...

The library is offering personal reading calendars to Downers Grove Public Library cardholders! This pocket-size 2003 calendar features a reading log, holidays, author birthdays, and information about our Get Caught Reading book club. We hope that you’ll use the calendar to keep track of important events in your life as well as the books you read throughout year. Supplies are limited. Hurry in to get yours today."

Phil Wolff pointed me to Davis Poses Checkout Fee at Libraries:

"In a little-noticed move, Gov. Gray Davis has proposed halving state support of already struggling local libraries and imposing user fees of $5 a book in certain cases.

The plan was rejected Tuesday by some Bay Area library officials as unprecedented and outrageous in a democracy.

'The idea of these fees violates the fundamental philosophy of public libraries,' said Alameda County Librarian Linda Wood. "I think the public would be outraged.' " [The Oakland Tribune]

If you live in California, you should read this article and yes, be outraged. Please be vocal and let your legislators know that libraries are a cornerstone of our democracy and as such, are not available for the chopping block (at least, not any further since they've been hit pretty hard already). It will be your loss if you don't.

Bill Erbes gets it. His LIS 753 course, Internet Fundamentals and Design, at Dominican University includes the following assignment:

"An introduction to the fundamentals of the Internet, including its origins, evolution, architecture, current issues, and future. Students will gain a basic understanding about Web content languages, Web site management, and design/usability principles. Students will also be introduced to the fundamentals of telecommunications and networking with examples drawn from the Internet. Critical Internet issues such as search engine limitations, security, privacy, copyright, governance, and other related topics will also be discussed....

Each student will maintain a Weblog throughout the term, with updates made no less than on a weekly basis. (160 points) DUE: Weekly, by 9:00 a.m. each Thursday throughout the term."

For this coming week's class, students are to be prepared to submit the name, address, and focus of the blog they will be maintaining throughout the term. Go LIS students!! I'll be following along with interest....

On a side note, the course syllabus reminds me about ISSNs for Weblogs. I had seen this last year, but the service was down. Now it's back up, and I intend to apply for one for TSL.