How to Find Video Recordings
The following information will assist in locating video recordings held at Macquarie University Library.
The Library has two types of video recordings. Commercially created video recordings purchased by the Library and off-air video recordings made under Screenrights licensing provisions.
Locations
There are three areas where video recordings can be found in the Library. The Audiovisual Collection, the Curriculum Collection (both on Level 3) and the Reserve Collection (on Level 2). The video recordings housed in the Reserve Collection are for use in current courses and can not be taken out of the Library.Catalogue Search
To locate video recordings in the catalogue use one of the following methods.
Using Quick Search
To find a video recording when you have the details, such as title, use
the quick search option. This is useful for finding commercially purchased
videos.
- Select the quick limit of Videorecording to search for videos only. Then enter either keywords or title in the search box and select the 'GO!' button to conduct the search.
Videorecording is a format description used to locate a video of a film, play, television program or educational course. Note that videorecording is used as one word, not two on the catalogue.
Using Advanced Search
When looking for an off-air video recording from a television program such as Four Corners or Foreign Correspondent, use advanced search.
- In the search box type the name of the series. eg:
Cutting Edge
Big Picture
Foreign Correspondent
Four Corners - Select search type 'Series' and then the 'GO!' button to find video recordings made of programs in that series.
Advanced search can also be used to combine keywords to locate video recordings.
- Select 'More Limits', Item Type 'Videos, Slides', then combine keywords, such as Shakespeare and Macbeth, to find the video recording required.
Subject Headings.
There are specific subject headings that may be used to locate particular kinds of video recordings. These subject headings can be found in the full record of a video recording and include:
Feature films United States.
Comedy films United States.
Children's films United States.
Clay animation films United States.
Motion Picture.
These subject headings can be used to find video recordings using Quick Search by entering them in the 'Search words' field and selecting 'Search type - Subject headings'.
For this kind of search to be effective the subject headings must be the Library of Congress subject headings assigned to the video recordings by the Library.
The subject heading 'Video recording' (two words) is useful if you want information about film and video making and production. It will not find the format videorecording (one word).
Other way of locating video recordings.
Also the full record of a video recording may contain Other Author(s) where the name of the company that produced the film is located.
For example
New Line Cinema Corporation.
Classroom Video (Firm : Australia)
SBS-TV.
SBS Independent.
ABC-TV (Australia)
The full record of a video recording or film may also contain the cast
members from the film.
For example
Cast/Performers: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano.
This is not always the case. However the name of a cast member is another possible way of locating a video recording using Quick Search.