The following guidelines should be used in concert with the library’s current Materials Selection Policy when evaluating video titles.

Feature Films

According to the current Materials Selection Policy, the library will provide entertainment feature films for adults and children that are established classics, major award winners, film versions of important works of literature and important representative films from other countries. While films in these categories will be considered, the final selection will be based on judgment of the film's overall merit based on the criteria of the Materials Selection Policy.

To assist library staff in meeting the intent of the policy, the library administration has adopted the following definitions and clarifications:

1. Feature film: a full-length dramatization produced for theatrical release.
2. Major prize winner: To be considered a major prize winner, a film will have won one or more of the following awards:
   
   • Academy Award for Best Picture
   • Academy Award for Best Actor
   • Academy Award for Best Actress
   • Academy Award for Best Director
   • Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
   • Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture-Drama
   • Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy
   • Cannes Film Festival Golden Palm
   • Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize
3. Established classics: To be considered a classic, a film must be a minimum of twenty years old. It should be considered important by a critically recognized organization, journal or reviewer as representative of a particular genre or era of film or of a director or actor’s work.
4. Film versions of important works of literature: Films in this category should be based on well-known and respected works, including books, plays, novellas and short stories. They should be close adaptations, not those that are loosely based on the work.
5. Representative films from other countries: These films should meet the definition of ‘established classic’ for their country of origin.
6. Films for children: In addition to those falling into one of the categories listed above, the following feature films intended specifically for children may also be considered:
   
   • Films of outstanding quality that have educational value for children due to their literary, cultural, or historical content including those based on legends, fairy tales, historical events or children’s books.
   • Animated films for children that are of outstanding quality and have received or been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature or the International Animated Film Society Award for Best Animated Feature.
7. The library system will not attempt to duplicate the range of titles available from video stores and other commercial outlets. We recognize that we cannot purchase sufficient titles and copies to meet all the needs of some of our customers. The intent of the collection is to provide access to a representative sampling of established films and not to provide a wide selection of recent releases. We will attempt to purchase selected titles in sufficient quantities to avoid long waiting lists.
8. If there are several versions or editions of a title available, we will purchase the original version. We will not purchase alternate versions of titles solely to provide access to directors’ cuts, special features or other added material. Alternate versions may be purchased to replace titles if the original is no longer available. Unrated directors’ cuts will not be purchased.
9. Unrated foreign films may be considered on a case by case basis. They will not be purchased unless it can be clearly determined that they are appropriate for a general audience.
10. Titles previously purchased in videocassette format that do not meet these guidelines may be retained until condition or usage warrants withdrawal. Additional or replacement copies of these titles will not be purchased in either format.

‘Non-theatrical’ videos

 According to the current Materials Selection Policy, the library may provide video recordings of general interest non-fiction and short fiction works produced for the education and home video markets. These ‘non-theatrical’ video recordings are purchased when the format provides a useful way of presenting information to a customer. Final selection will be based on judgment of overall merit based on the criteria of the Materials Selection Policy.

To assist library staff in meeting the intent of the policy, the library administration has adopted the following clarifications:

1. Recordings of dramatic and musical performances such as classic stage plays or Broadway musicals may be considered for purchase. Recordings of musical concert tours or stand up comedy routines will not be purchased with the following exception:
   
   • Musical or comedy recordings including material of significant cultural or historical value may be purchased if approved by the Materials Selection Manager.
2. Recordings of classic television series and other programs produced for television will not be purchased with the following exceptions:
   
   • Documentaries and other informational programs may be considered for purchase.
   • Short features specifically intended to meet the needs and interests of children may be considered for purchase.
   • Selected episodes of other television series that include material of significant cultural or historical value may be purchased if approved by the Materials Selection Manager.