Swem Library has videorecordings in three formats: DVDs, VHS tapes, and laser discs. Loan policies for videorecordings are set by W&M faculty, in conjunction with Swem Library's Media Center.
Most of the library's videorecordings are considered a teaching collection, so the loan policies reflect the faculty's need to have the videorecordings available for that purpose, even on short notice.
Swem Library's DVD collection is divided into three categories:
1. regular DVDs, housed on the ground floor, which circulate to students and staff for 3 days and to faculty for 7 days
2. popular DVDs, housed on the first floor, which circulate to students and staff for 3 days and to faculty for 7 days
3. permanent reserve DVDs, housed behind the Circulation/Reserves Desk, which circulate to students and staff for 3 hours and to faculty for 7 days.
All DVDs require a library card to check out, even to view in the library.
Swem Library's VHS and laser discs circulate outside the building only to W&M faculty, unless special permission is granted. Other patrons can view most of the VHS and laser discs in the library, without checking them out. They can be checked out for 3-hour, in-library use.
The Video Checkout Permission Form should be used by faculty and staff to grant students or other patrons the permission to check out videorecordings that they would otherwise not be permitted to check out, or for an extended loan:
• Videos in the video stacks : All patrons with a library card may view Swem's DVDs in the library by choosing videos from the shelves and viewing them in the library's viewing rooms. VHS tapes and laser discs do not require a library card, unless they are on reserve.
• Videos that faculty have placed on reserve : All patrons that have a valid Swem Library card may view videos that are on reserve (located at the Circulation/Reserves Desk) by presenting their library cards, requesting the desired videos, viewing them in the library's viewing rooms, and returning them to the Circulation/Reserves Desk.
Please see details at the Borrowing Privileges Charts webpage. Two special situations:
W&M Language House Tutors
• If Language House tutors need extended loans periods because they are also actively teaching a Modern Languages course, they should have that indicated on a Video Permission Checkout Form. They are also encouraged to place videos for their classes on reserve.
Christopher Wren Association instructors (not members)
• Christopher Wren Association instructors who are currently teaching a CWA class should first place any videos for their classes on reserve. Circulation staff will verify their CWA instructor status via a current semester CWA schedule and complete, with the CWA instructor, a Video Checkout Permission Form..
• Then they may check out those reserved videos for a 7-day loan, with no renewals; fines accrue.
