Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990                   TAG: 9006180199
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STATE REPORT LIBRARIES IN THE VIDEO BUSINESS?

A state watchdog commission that surveyed library collections in some Virginia regions wants the State Library Board to put a lid on the number of videotapes libraries can buy. Lonesome Pine is one of the reasons why.

The report creates a distinct impression that Lonesome Pine libraries are the place to go if you prefer "Friday the 13th" to Chaucer. Their video collection includes R-rated movies, horror movies and cartoons, many reportedly purchased at top dollar - top tax dollars, no less.

In 1988, the region spent $81,000 on videotapes, $64,000 on books. From 1983 to 1989, the region's video circulation grew from 7,884 to 461,724. During that time, juvenile book circulation dropped from 256,046 to 178,335. The figures seem more shocking when you consider that one out of five people in the region is functionally illiterate.

However, the report ignores some important facts. The "video" figures also include records and audio tapes, according to a library official. A bookkeeping mistake resulted in the lopsided 1988 purchases. Money available for book purchases was under-reported by $50,000, which was spent the following year on books.

The video circulation figures pale beside last year's overall circulation of 1.25 million items. The region's eight libraries have 500,000 books and 13,000 audio-visual items, including records, audio tapes and videos. Many of them are educational videos often used by people who can't read. Just as many are popular items that can be picked up at any video store.

That's where the State Library Board should step in with a set of guidelines. Libraries shouldn't be spending tax dollars to compete with video rental stores. They should be buying material that patrons can't as easily find elsewhere, such as foreign films and movies based on literary classics.

Roanoke residents with a fondness for the written word will be happy to hear that city libraries have 368,327 books and 1,065 videotapes. The Roanoke County library system has 224,563 books and 590 videos. It's hard to blame the libraries if some videos are checked out with more frequency than books.

Lonesome Pine libraries - which serve Wise, Dickenson, Scott and Lee counties in far Southwest Virginia - may have some videotapes of questionable value. But they have 50 books for every videotape, an active literacy program, and an array of other services more in keeping with the mission of public libraries.

The state shouldn't overreact to the report's superficial findings by imposing rigid guidelines that leave libraries with little buying discretion. After all, regions vary. Technology is changing. Videos can be learning tools. And libraries are now information centers - not just book collections.