Reviewed Sept./Oct.1999 Free Issues of Aging Publication "When an old person dies, a library burns" (African proverb). With the average lifespan nearing 80 in some developed countries, and Baby Boomers facing tough decisions on how best to help their elderly parents, issues of aging are becoming increasingly important. Coinciding with 1999 being the International Year of Older Persons, The Library Media Project is making available, for free, the 46-page Video Curation: Constructing Library Core Collections, Vol. 1--Issues of Aging, which features articles by media librarians, a psychologist and a filmmaker on aging, building a core collection, and community programming, as well as supplemental resources and suggested reading. The "core" of the collection is the annotated list of 65 videos (individually available) being offered at substantially reduced prices only to public libraries. Although a few of the titles listed are or have been available on home video (Troublesome Creek, For Better or For Worse, and Riding the Rails), the majority have not, and all but two titles include public performance rights. Final discounted prices on these 65 Owl Award winners range from $15 to $260, with the vast majority (60 of 65) falling under the $100 mark. Topics include: health concerns, caregivers, end-of-life issues, home/hospice/institutional healthcare, age discrimination, economic issues, elder abuse, sexuality/romance, friendship and more. An extremely useful curated video guide, Issues of Aging is highly recommended. Available from: The Library Media Project, 1807 W. Sunnyside, #1D, Chicago, IL 60640; tel: (800) 847-3671; web: www.librarymedia.org. |
