Using the Resource Guide

Print Format

The Media Collection published a new print version of the Resource Guide in 2005.   Counties were offered the opportunity to purchase copies at cost.  Many of them took advantage of the offer.  Copies are still available.  If your county is still using the 1996 edition, it is extremely outdated and should be discarded.   As always, the online version is the most current available and we strongly recommend your using it (see below).

Online Format

The online version of the Resource Guide provides the most current information regarding what is available from the Media Collection. The online Resource Guide is different from the print in that it takes strictly a subject approach to the collection. Materials are listed under approximately 135 different subject areas.  There is no overall alphabetical list available online.  However you are able to search by title and number as well as by subject category.

Using the Online Version

When you access the online Resource Guide, the first thing you'll see is a section titled "Finding Materials in the Resource Guide".  This explains how to do either a title/number search or a subject search for materials available from the Media Collection.  You can also choose to view a short demo of either method. Either method will bring up a list of materials in a particular subject area.

Once you determine the subject area you're interested in, or find it by doing a title/number search, click on it and an alphabetical list of all the titles available from the Coop Media Collection in that area will appear. Complete information about each title is given here, including a short description of what it's about, as well as a list of what it includes. The production date is given if known, in addition to the length of playing time for each DVD or videocassette and for any title that includes an audiocassette.

Each item has been assigned a unique number which appears to the right of the title in the listing. In cases where there is more than one format available for a particular title - e.g., video and slide, the title is listed separately for each format along with the unique number for that format. Be sure to indicate the correct item numbers well as titles when ordering.

There are several cases where titles in the collection were issued as part of a series, e.g., Beginning Horsemanship Series. To help you identify and locate items in these series, we have included in the appropriate subject listing, the series heading, with a list of the titles included in each. You will need to refer to the individual titles for more complete information.