Letter from the Editors


Welcome to the first issue of MC JOURNAL: THE JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC
MEDIA LIBRARIANSHIP.  Our goal is to provide media librarians
with a peer reviewed electronic journal that disseminates
substantive information relevant to media services in academic
libraries.  Articles will include a balance of scholarly works
that address issues related to the practice of media
librarianship; and application papers that provide discussion on
specific methodologies related to media services.  It is our hope
that MC JOURNAL will become a working resource for media
librarians as well as a forum for discourse.

Since the announcement of MC Journal, we have been asked a few
questions.  "What is academic media librarianship?"  "What do you
mean by 'media'?"  In the context of this journal, academic media
librarianship encompasses, however is not restricted to, those
librarians with the primary management responsibility of
distributing audiovisual services to an academic community.  Also
in the context of this journal the term "media" or the phrase
"media services" refers to non-print educational technologies
that utilize film, video, and audio. Included as well are the new
multimedia technologies that combine audio and video with
integrated computer processing.   We feel a distinguishing focus
is essential in order to insure specific discussion in the field.

Only the cognoscente know that academic media librarians are
responsible for a diverse menu of media services that are an
interwoven part of library and academic operations.  Media
services can and often do include acquisitions, equipment
selection and distribution, cataloging, media production
processes, reference, circulation and collection development.
Media librarians are continually using materials and technologies
that are considered "new" or "emerging".  It is through this
electronic journal that we plan to address the diverse needs of
our specialized field with current and accurate information.

To date we know of no scholarly journal that is designed for
academic media librarians.  Until now, many were forced to
locate information that was scattered throughout the vast array
of library and educational literature.  If successful, MC JOURNAL
will become a focal point, and serve to reduce the information
entropy factor now present in our field.


The diversity of audiovisual librarianship is reflected in this
first issue.  Marilyn Kercher contributes the results of a study
performed at Ohio State University Library.  Cataloging a/v
materials often necessitates viewing or listening to the piece.
A time consuming task that also requires local playback
equipment.  Using student assistants to help in this process can
be invaluable to the cataloger.  Mark Chase, at Slippery Rock
University, reviews the copyright literature as it relates to
current findings on copyright attitudes among educators and
librarians.  Catherine Egan contributes an overview of the
designing of a multimedia program for history coursework.
Rounding out the issue, V. Lonnie Lawson and Stephen Walker
present some interesting insights from their study that looks at
the motion picture industry's perceptions of the library
profession.

We are certain that MC JOURNAL will be on target for many
librarians and interested professionals that work in the field or
deal with media.  We welcome and encourage participation in the
form of manuscripts or comments.  Only with your participation
and input will this electronic journal prove successful.  Many
thanks to the authors, the editorial board, and others who have
supported publication of this first issue.

Lori Widzinski, Editor
HSLLJW@ubvm.bitnet  or  HSLLJW@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu

Terrence McCormack, Associate Editor
LWLTEMCC@ubvm  or LWLTEMCC@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu