In beginning, intermediate, and advanced video making and production, Mekuria allows students to make their own documentary and narrative films. The demand for a comprehensive and accessible video collection at the College has been overwhelming. At this point it shows little sign of diminishing. Even though the Library now has an excellent core collection of materials, we are no longer sure that the collection size will level out within a year or two. New applications for video in instruction, as well as in future new media technologies, make this an exciting collection to watch.
Technology provides instant access to locations, and in some cases availability.
ILL staff can also view many international online catalogs, and they routinely make requests from the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Australia. Wellesley is a net lender among the Interlibrary Loan partners. In 1994-95 we obtained about 6,000 items and provided about 7,000 to other libraries. Incoming traffic is tilted toward journal articles, while outgoing items tend to be books testifying to the age and quality of our collections on campus. While Wellesley's microfilm holdings of African-American journals and newspapers are particularly strong, many of the materials I needed to consult are not represented in the College's collections.