Wheaton College has an extensive and growing collection of videos and DVDs on a wide range of topics. The majority of these films are housed at Buswell Memorial Library. Usage is governed by the Wheaton College Copyright Guide and library circulation policies. The following information should address most faculty members’ questions.
Finding Videos
Use the
How to Find Videos & DVDs guide for searching Buswell Library’s catalog, or contact a librarian at x5169 for assistance.
[top]
Video & DVD Circulation
Videos and DVDs circulate to faculty for one week. An additional one-week renewal is possible by using "My Account" online or by calling the Circulation desk at x5354. To arrange for additional renewals or extended use, please email
Video.Coordinator@wheaton.edu.
[top]
Classroom Showings
Faculty or their TAs may borrow videos and DVDs for classroom use. Items may be checked out well in advance of need in order to ensure availability on the desired show date; the circulation staff can adjust due dates to encompass an entire semester if desired. If several faculty members need the same film, the Buswell Video Coordinator will help arrange use among them. Please return items to Buswell as soon as they are no longer needed so that they can be made available to others.
[top]
If Wheaton College Does Not Own a Video or DVD
A faculty member can request video/DVD rentals and purchases. Please allow plenty of time (
at least two weeks’ advance notice is typically needed).
1. RENTAL is preferred for items that are no longer available for sale, or for expensive films that will only be shown once or twice. Please send an e-mail to Video.Coordinator@wheaton.edu specifying:
- The name of the film (and any other helpful identifying information)
- The desired class showing date
- The rental source, if known
- The departmental account number to which the rental can be charged
- The approval of the department chair for the expenditure (forward the e-mail through the chair, department secretary, etc., as preferred by your department)
Please note that requesting a rental does not guarantee the rental can be accomplished.
The Video Coordinator will contact the professor to confirm the rental placement, dates, and cost when the film has been successfully scheduled. The film will be delivered to the department prior to the show date and retrieved afterwards for return.
2. PURCHASE is preferred for videos/DVDs that are readily available for sale, reasonably priced, and/or will be used repeatedly every time a course is taught. Please send an e-mail to Video.Coordinator@wheaton.edu ,or send a purchase requisition form to the Buswell Video Coordinator. Please specify:
- The name of the film (and any other helpful identifying information)
- Whether the film is needed for a particular class showing date, particular semester’s use, specific course, etc., or is simply desired for addition to the collection
- The purchase source and cost, if known
- Whether a preview option is desired (see below)
The departmental video/DVD account number to which the purchase can be charged
- The approval of the department chair for the expenditure (forward the e-mail through the chair, dept. secretary, etc., as preferred by your department)
It is also possible to request purchase of a video or DVD by Buswell Library, using the library’s acquisitions funds. To do so, follow the normal acquisitions procedures used for requesting a book purchase.
[top]
Previewing Videos and DVDs
Many film distributors provide a limited-time preview option or approval period for faculty who would like to view a film before purchasing it. We encourage previews, especially for expensive titles. Policies vary by company, and sometimes there is a preview fee. Whenever a purchase request is placed, the Video Coordinator will provide guidance about preview and approval options. Previews and newly purchased films will be delivered to the requesting faculty’s department for approval and subsequently retrieved for cataloging and processing.
For additional information on these topics or other film-related questions, please contact the Video Coordinator by phone at x5620, by email at Video.Coordinator.edu, or by fax at x5855.
[top]
