Bringing Vinyl Back

Given the resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records, up 52% in sales from 2013 according to Time magazine, College Library has decided to change course and focus solely on preserving music in this traditional medium. By revising its collection development policies and embracing 180 gram vinyl as the preferred music format, library staff feel they are taking a bold step forward to the past.

Music CDs have always been popular at College Library, however, staff have noticed a dip in circulation statistics, traced to increasingly popular streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, and Songza. By returning to a format with no competition, with the exception of the unmourned cassette tape, library staff hope to tap into an underserved, and markedly hipper, clientele.

Unfortunately, due to budget restrictions, the vinyl collection has been forced to rely on donations to date. Instead of featuring albums by contemporary musicians like St. Vincent or Jack White or classic bands such as the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, it currently houses three soundtrack albums (Cats, Juno, and The Producers) along with Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Nickelback’s Silver Side Up and Enema of the State by Blink 182. Staff are pursuing various funding options to enhance this collection and are considering a Kickstarter campaign. Pledge rewards could range from priority study room reservations to fashion advice from librarians.

Should the vinyl collection prove as popular as expected, staff are considering converting the DVD collection to LaserDisc and installing microform readers in lieu of the magazine collection.

As far as equipment rentals are concerned, the Computer & Media Center is now circulating a turntable with built-in 8-track tape deck – also a donated item.

We suggest bringing your own dolly.

— April 1, 2015