Introducing Online Search Services Using Videotape

The medium of videotape is well suited for introductory presentations about online searching. Several library schools and vendors have created videotaped instructions for novice searchers, but some libraries have now begun to use the medium to produce introductions aimed at potential patrons of their online search services. Reports of several of these presentations are examined in this paper. The library at the University of Hawaii at Manoa produced several videotapes to introduce online search services to their patrons. The problems encountered, uses and potential of these productions are discussed.