Managing Media Services:
Theory and Practice
William D. Schmidt
Donald Arthur Rieck
Chapter 5
Managing Media Materials Services
ETEC 579
Dr. Jason Lee Davis
Adapted from a presentation by Angela Homan
Managing Media Materials
Services
In this chapter, you will learn
everything you ever wanted to know
about…
Ordering
Processing
Circulating
…materials and equipment!
The Media Center’s materials
collection often includes:
Materials showing motion
Audio materials
Sound and projected still images
Other materials (models, kits)
Print materials
As well as storing materials,
the media center must
establish policies and
procedures to facilitate their
selection, processing,
circulation, and
maintenance.
5 Steps to a Happy
Media Center
Determine collection needs
Select appropriate materials
Develop appropriate technical processing
procedures
Develop effective and efficient circulation
procedures
Develop materials maintenance
procedures
Determine collection needs by…
Soliciting client advice
Cost of media
Equipment needed
Simplicity to use
User familiarity
However, the ultimate choice is
that of the Media Manager.
Selecting Appropriate Materials
Develop criteria to facilitate the
selection process
(written policy should exist)
What should your policy include?
(each one will be different)
Questions Guiding a Selection Policy
What content area should the
collection cover?
What media format(s) will be included?
How will materials be evaluated prior
to purchasing?
What criteria will be used to evaluate
quality?
Questions Guiding a Selection Policy
Will professional review sources be
used in the evaluation process?
Does potential use of the material
justify the cost?
Are multiple copies needed?
Are similar materials already available
in the existing collection?
Now that you have a policy,
it is time to select materials!
Locating Sources for
Instructional/Training Materials
Catalogs
Brochures
Professional Journals/Periodicals
Advertisements/Reviews
Workshops/Conferences
Client input
Materials Evaluation Procedure
(typical)
“Do it yourself” plan - media manager/staff
evaluate materials
Materials are purchased without evaluation
All requested materials obtained for preview
Only materials most often rented are
purchased
Only materials highly recommended by
professional review sources are ordered for
preview or purchase
A review committee is used
Evaluation Forms…
KISS
Keep
It
Short &
Simple
Technical Processes
Acquisitions
Ordering, Tracking, Receiving, Payment
Processing
Inspection, viewing, functional test,
defective returns, ID tagging
Cataloging
Classification - Systematic arrangement
Catalog – Total collection index
Non-Print Materials
Non-print media should be shelved
elsewhere in the collection.
Monitoring and access will be much
easier if housed in a separate area.
Also, machinery needed to use this
media can be stored nearby.
Circulation Procedures
Reference & Retrieval
Scheduling & Booking/Check-out
Delivery
Patron Use
Check-in
Inspection
Billing
Maintaining the Collection
Keeping the Collection in
Good Physical Condition
Start with quality material
Clean regularly
Provide instructions for accurate
use and care of materials
Maintaining the Collection
Keeping the Collection Current
Weeding - the process of removing
materials from a collection (10% a year)
Age of the material
Circulation statistics
Physical condition
Patron and
collection needs
The END