Anyclip.com

On the regular search of the Internet for new Viewers' Advisory tools, I came across this posting on the blog, 'Cataloguing Antelopes'.  It introduces a great resource that I had not come across, http://www.anyclip.com/.

Here is the discussion on the website from 'Cataloguing Antelopes':

The idea was possibly using You Tube to search for a film using keywords, much like many readers advisory services out there.  Searching on You Tube, however, is difficult, unwieldy, and many times, completely futile.
Enter Anyclip.
Anyclip is a new service that was introduced at the TechCrunch50 conference a few weeks ago.  Basically, these developers have created a movie clip search engine, which will allow users to “find any moment from any film, instantly.”  Imagine the possibilities.  A library patron approaches the desk and is trying to find a movie.  She can’t remember the title, but she thinks she remembers an actor’s name and can describe a scene.  I get these kinds of questions from friends all the time:  “You know that movie?  A surfer kid has a pizza delivered to class, and the guy from My Favorite Martian is the teacher.  What is that movie?”  If you didn’t know off hand, you could simply enter a few of these keywords into Anyclip, and voila–Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Right now, the site seems to be targeting movie lovers, studios, and the online film community, but this is a service that could really prove its value for libraries. 

Here is Anyclip's description of their product:

AnyClip is a tagging technology that extracts and indexes metadata of full-length feature films. This database, available through our open API, enhances the user experience on third-party websites,  including video, travel, fashion, sports, and dating, as well as location based services. Publishers and educators can also enrich their content with our syndicated player. AnyClip is the premier video resource for movie studios to monetize and promote their libraries of entertainment online by connecting consumers with the emotional experience of viewing movie clips to make purchasing decisions.

This could be very helpful at the information desk, especially for patrons who are remember things visually. Do you think this would be helpful as a Viewers' Advisory Tool?

Warner Home Video DVD Releases for Public Libraries

I just came across this announcement from Midwest Tapes regarding Warner DVDs from movies released theatrically. 

For library users, those who cannot purchase these DVDs will not only not be able to see the movies on the release date, but also will lose the extras that make watching the DVD version so interesting.

What do you think of this decision?

We have recently learned that Warner Home Video will no longer distribute theatrical releases to libraries or home video rental stores until 28 days after they release the movies for sale at retailers. This Warner Home Video policy applies to all public libraries and video rental outlets such as Redbox, Netflix, and Blockbuster.

In addition to being released 28 days after the retail version, Warner’s rental version DVDs and Blu-rays will not contain bonus features or extras. However, we understand that there will be a significant price reduction for these products, apparently amounting to an average $4 per DVD title and $8 per Blu-ray title (see cost breakdown below).

Warner Home Video has announced that it may seek to enforce its new policy by auditing its distribution partners’ sales. Additionally, Warner may require retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, to limit the number of copies of a new release that may be sold to a single customer.

Please note that Warner’s new policy will only impact titles that have a theatrical release, perhaps amounting to about 12 titles per year. Non-theatrical Warner releases will not be affected by this policy.

Below are the first three Warner theatrical titles affected. Note that Warner’s rental versions will feature rental artwork.

ALA Recommended Viewing List

I am always on the look out for Viewers' Advisory tools.  On another of my tours around the Internet, I found the ALA Recommended Viewing List, which includes links from Booklist and the Carnegie medal and is sorted by age.

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/library/alarecommends/recommendedviewing.cfm

Note at the end the promotion of ALA product.

Materials Matchmaking: Articulating Whole Library Advisory

In my research on Viewers' Advisory, I had looked at how factors of appeal can be transferred from Readers' Advisory.

This article from Tara Bannon Williamson in RUSQ builds on the factors of appeal to use them for all types of materials.

http://www.rusq.org/2011/04/03/materials-matchmaking-articulating-whole-library-advisory/

She also provides five 'bundles' which feature a theme and a representative book, CD and DVD. She explains the benefits of the bundles:

It is important to note that customers may not know to request a matchmaking intervention, and as librarians, we need to be bold enough to offer it to them. This can be achieved simply and without library jargon. Customers requesting a popular title may face an extensive wait list as more and more customers take advantage of the library’s offerings. After placing their request and before they walk away, asking if they are looking for a movie for tonight/the weekend/a special occasion can get the ball rolling.

I really like this approach.  It provides patrons with a sensory experience while exploring a theme. As library advisors, we may have not thought of ourselves in that light.  We can promote the wide variety of our collections with this method. 

Ms Bannon Williamson ends her article with the following:

Until a database similar to Novelist for providing recommendations for movies or music is created, or tools such as an algorithm that generates suggestions based on either customer or librarian input, or a recommendation engine is made available to libraries, any librarian can learn the skills needed to smoothly navigate the materials matchmaking request using skills based in readers’ advisory.

We are navigators to our collections.  Let's begin the voyage.