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Numerous videorecordings, both videotapes and DVDs, are available in the University Libraries' collections. Many of these videos are recordings of feature films, while others show theater productions, concerts, lectures, and much more. Still others are teaching videos designed for educational purposes. Most videos are located in Gorgas Library's Music Collection (even the non-music titles) because viewing equipment is available in that area. You can browse a list of the videos in the Music Collection on the University Libraries' website. Most videos can be checked out; for complete information, including current availability, you can search for videos in the Libraries' Catalog.
The illustration below shows how to search for videos in the Libraries' Catalog in four easy steps. Go to the Libraries' Catalog and follow these steps:
1. At the Libraries' Catalog opening screen, click on "Basic Search."
2. On the Basic Search page, enter a term in the search box.
3. Set the Quick Limits dropdown box to "Videorecordings."
4. Click on the Search button.
The method above will help you search for videorecordings by using keywords. To search by title, put the title of the video in the search box and change the search type ("Find Results in:") to Title (Omit A, An, The).
If you want to narrow your search to videotapes only or DVDs only, you should use a slightly different approach:
1. At the Libraries' Catalog opening screen, click on "Advanced Search."
2. On the Advanced Search page, enter your search on the first line. You can choose any type of search offered on this screen.
3. To limit your search to videotapes only, put VHS in the second search box; to limit to DVDs only, put DVD? in the second search box.
4. Click on the Search button.
Q: Why do I have to use a question mark when I search for DVDs, i.e., search on "DVD?" ?
A: DVDs come in a variety of types with different capacities, designated by a numerical code. The catalog might describe a DVD as a DVD-5 or a DVD-14. Using the question mark ensures that we retrieve all catalog records using a term that starts with the letters DVD.The instructions above will be effective for many types of searches among the videos in the Libraries' collection. The movies below provide some examples of how to perform specialized searches.
Find videos of foreign language films.
Find videos of ballets. Limit the results to videotapes only, not DVDs.
Find videos of movies starring Marilyn Monroe.
Need further assistance? Ask for help at any of the University Libraries' service desks or through our Ask-a-Librarian service.
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