Library DVDs, what the . . .

[ShinyGreenApple]

So, for a while now, most libraries have a section where you can borrow DVDs and VHS tapes at no charge, great news for people like me who don't want to shell out for rentals and don't watch enough movies to warrant a Netflix account. Except . . . many of the discs I've taken out are in horrible condition. WTF do people do, break in Brillo pads on them? Use them as pucks for kitchen/garage hockey? Coasters? I don't get it. Do people abuse them because they get them for free from the library and figure it's not their problem if the movie gets scratched or soiled to the point that it won't be playable anymore to anyone else? Or do they get donated because the original owners have treated them like garbage? I particularly recall taking out a copy of the Depp version of Charlie and the Chocolate factory, and finding, when I opened it at home, that it looked like it had been rolled through every department of Mr. Wonka's factory, it was so sticky and scratched. Before my wonderful nephew got me my own copy of The Phantom of the Opera for Christmas (bless him, he knows me so well!), I was repeatedly taking it out from the library and it was in worse condition every time and got to the point it wouldn't play in several sections.

I'm not really complaining, as it's a free service and there's probably not much the library can do anyways, except trash the ruined movies, but it still leaves me with a big WTF in my mind. The first few DVDs I ever bought, back in 2003, have been watched many, many times, and the same can be said for my nephew, who started his collection fairly young, and all of our discs are still nice and shiny and look just as nice as they did when we bought them. I've loaned out movies and TV series to teenagers and they still came back looking like new. I just don't understand the crumminess of the library ones.

[BookstoreEscapee]

My guess is because people don't care, because it's not their property, they know the library can't test every disc before reshelving them, and by the time the next person complains, there's really no way to know who it is that actually damaged it.

[ApolloSZ]

Do people abuse them because they get them for free from the library and figure it's not their problem if the movie gets scratched or soiled to the point that it won't be playable anymore to anyone else?

This. Having worked in a library - This will bethe big one.
The library I worked at loaned dvd's for like NZ$5 (cheaper than rental) But we had returned ones put to the side to be checked before they were made available again and checked them with the patron before they left the building. Sucked to be the person caught returning a damaged disc!

[KellyHabersham]

Actually, it's not quite true that the library can't do anything about damaged DVDs.....I can't speak for what other libraries/systems would do, but the one I work at has a buffing machine which has helped restore most of the damaged DVDs. (I've never used the said machine myself, so I'm not familiar with the process)

[ladyneeva]

My sisters trash library DVDs on a regular basis... they let their kids put them in, take them out, etc. Unsupervised. One of said kids was all of 3 when that practice started. And don't think movies intended for adults are safe... they let the kids watch things like Saw.

No, I don't particularly approve of my sisters' parenting abilities, why do you ask?

Don't think Netflix is all that safe from that either... while the disks are rarely truly trashed beyond watching, they're always scratched and often get a little twitchy about playing certain scenes.

Just seems to be a lot of people aren't willing to take care of things anymore I guess.

[draggar]

Don't think Netflix is all that safe from that either... while the disks are rarely truly trashed beyond watching, they're always scratched and often get a little twitchy about playing certain scenes.

Yep and sadly these companies get mad at the people who report the bad discs 9shoot the messenger?). I just got in a movie I really wanted to watch - guess what? It was CRACKED IN HALF. So now I have to wait until next week for a new copy.

[ApolloSZ]

Actually, it's not quite true that the library can't do anything about damaged DVDs.....I can't speak for what other libraries/systems would do, but the one I work at has a buffing machine which has helped restore most of the damaged DVDs. (I've never used the said machine myself, so I'm not familiar with the process)

Nerd mode on - Most polish/finely grind away a layer or the clear plastic. The disc's info is stored on a very thin layer over a reflective surface, which has the label on the other side. Then a thicker plastic layer for strength. The really good way to stop a disc from working other than snapping/microwaving is to scratch chunks of the label off, till you can see straight through the disc. Then the disc serves more use as a coaster

[Food Lady]

Microwaving??

[Plaidman]

Microwaving??

Well, if ya don't mind the fireworks, try it some time. Or just surf Youtube for vids of it.

[taxguykarl]

At most electronics stores you can buy a CD/DVD cleaner/repair kit. I have to do that with every other disk I rent or borrow.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've never gotten DVDs from the libaray (I should see what kind of selection they have at the one here...). I haven't had too many problems over the years with Blockbuster movies.... I just have a regular store membership, but I don't use it much. My brother has the Blockbuster by mail thing (like Netflix) and usually he will pass movies on to my parents to watch, then if I want to see it I will take it. Sometimes they'll offer them to my aunt and uncle as well. Whoever gets it last drops it in the mail.

[AdminAssistant]

If you have a cloth and spray to clean eyeglasses, that will generally help a smudge or scuffed DVD (big scratches are another story). I have Netflix, and have borrowed movies from the campus library, and have never had a problem.

[XCashier]

At most electronics stores you can buy a CD/DVD cleaner/repair kit. I have to do that with every other disk I rent or borrow.

I've got a CD/DVD cleaner similar to this one, and it does a great job cleaning off fingerprints, food smudges and other assorted grossness from mishandled CDs and DVDs. Still, I don't understand why people are so careless with someone else's stuff. You know they'd be the first to fly off the handle if they loaned a disc to someone and it came back scratched to hell.

Handle the disc by the edges, replace it in its case when you're not using it. It's just as easy to be careful as it is to be careless.