Last updated: 1/29/09
Media Resource Center

The Media Resource Center (MRC) is the URI Library’s primary collection of materials in electronic non-print (audio and visual) formats. These formats include VHS videocassettes, DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), laser discs, 16mm film, compact audio discs, audiocassettes, and CD-ROMs. The MRC collection is intended to support the broad range of study and research interests on campus. The MRC is also responsible for assisting library users with the Microform Collection. For more information about URI’s Microform holdings, please see our Microforms page.

Hours and phone numbers

The Media Resource Center can be reached at (401) 874-4266 or
(401) 874-4267.

Lists of videos and feature films in the MRC

• All URI videos by title
• All URI videos by year
• All URI feature films by title
• All URI feature films by year
• All URI documentary films by title
• All URI documentary films by year

Use and borrowing privileges
All materials in the MRC collection may be scheduled for classroom use by current URI faculty, graduate student instructors, and undergraduate students.  Materials may also be used by Library patrons in the MRC (“in-house use”), or checked out for home use by authorized patrons.

The following rules apply to the use and borrowing of materials:

Classroom use:

• Faculty members and students needing materials for classroom presentations may schedule them ahead of time with MRC staff by either calling the MRC, e-mail, or dropping off a list of titles including show dates and call numbers.

• Materials should be returned promptly after the scheduled show date. Extensions may be approved by calling the MRC.

• Materials scheduled for classroom use will be placed “on reserve” for the entire semester. This means that item is available for in-house use or scheduled classroom presentation only.

In-house use:

• The MRC provides an individual playback facility supporting all formats in the collection. The intended use of this facility is to support direct course-related work, including course-assigned viewing and use for the development of research papers and projects.

Home use:

• Patrons with valid HELIN consortium library cards or University of Rhode Island Special Borrower’s cards are authorized to check out two titles at a time as long as the titles are not “on reserve.” 16mm films do not circulate.

• The following borrowing periods apply:

Material	Loan Period
Video tapes, laser video discs, and DVDs:	Overnight or over the weekend.
Audiotapes, Music CDs, and CD-ROMs:	One week from the date of check-out.

• Media materials may be renewed one time only. Media materials which are not returned on time will be assessed a $2.00 per day per item fine. Items which would normally be due back on a holiday will be due back the first working day following the holiday.

Materials “on reserve”:

• Library-owned materials: Media Resource Center materials “on reserve” may only be used for classroom or in-house use.

• Faculty-owned materials: Faculty members may put legally-acquired materials “on reserve” for the use of their students. These items will be shelved by course code in a separate area and may only be used in-house.

Resource materials
The Media Resource Center offers consultation and assistance in locating appropriate instructional media.

Help searching for media in the HELIN library catalog
Help is available in how to search the HELIN library catalog for the following specific types of media:

• Videos, Laserdiscs, and 16 mm Films
• Audio Tapes
• Music CDs
• CD-ROMs

Contact information
The Curator of the Media Resource Center is Eileen Tierney. Eileen can be reached by e-mail at eileent@uri.edu or by telephone at (401) 874-4267.