The Library in Crisis

Produced by Julian Samuel

Dense with the informed commentary of notable scholars, this documentary in effect traces the history of civilization through the phenomenon of the library. From ancient China, India, Islam, and the Graeco Roman world, we see how the library radiated knowledge and spiritual values, and facilitated the cross fertilization of ideas from one culture to another.

Now this venerable institution is under siege, these scholars suggest, from a variety of forces: the internet, digital technology, copyright law and that most contemporary bugaboo, globalization.

Among those we hear from are Fred Lerner, author of the Story of Libraries; Peter F. McNally, McGill University; Islamic scholar Sumaiya Handani, George Mason University; Donald Gutstein, Simon Fraser University. A challenging production for everyone in academia, including students!

46 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295. Video rental $75.