HIT>A-V Troubleshooting

["Doris A. Shaughnessy" <mstddsx@GSUSGI2.GSU.EDU>]

Thanks to all the many people who responded to my query for help about
troubleshooting or minor repair for A-V equipment.  I've been looking for
some kind of self-help manual or mini-course to guide library media
specialists.  Besides many helpful references of actual bibliographic
resources, I also received many messages simply requesting I forward my
results along to them--apparently there is some consensus that this sort
of help is desperately needed!

Many people mentioned Audiovisual Equipment and Materials:  A Basic Repair
and Maintenance Manual, Vol 1 and Vol 2., written by Don Schroeder and
Gary Lare.  On this I heard from Dan Robinson, Karen Albrethsen, Jan
Hylen, Jaon MacFarlane, and one of the authors, Gary Lare.  Gary's
response was very helpful, not at all "authorish" or pushy, but simply
made reference to the two volumes above and the fact that they are
published by The Scarecrow Press, Inc.  Metuchen, NJ.  Thanks, Gary, and
others!  Other sources mentioned were the following:  Jan Hylen mentioned
Audiovisual Fundamentals:  Basic Equipment Operation, Simple Materials
Production, by Calvin E. Mether, John R. Bullard, and Bill Martin, from Wm C.
Brown Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa, 1989, 0-697-06133-7.  And Joan MacFarlane
and Dan Robinson mentioned AV Troubleshooter (sorry, my software
does not allow slashes) by Lesley Kamenshine, 0-13-054529-5; 0-15-052411-2,
paper).

Under the heading of "miscellaneous advice," Judy Sims Goldberg stressed
the importance of cleaning and having one's own toolbox, which should
(according to Judy) definitely include a pair of needle-nose pliers.  She
also suggested there might be some sort of statewide bid that even we
private schools could make use of.  David Anderson sent me a copy of the
handout that his school uses for minor AV repair.  (Thanks, David!)    And
Cathie Birdsong advised a log-keeping strategy, whereby one keeps track of the
following, whenever sending in repairs:  Type of Equipment, Type of
Problem, Solution.   (At least, if we do this, we can possibly learn
from the repair people.)  Also many thanks to Mancy J. P. Lively, who
offered some specific advice about audio tape players, and to Sandra
(last name unknown) who told me about a Consumer Guide publication
entitled "Your VCR: How to Operate, Maintain, and Repair."

Thanks to all who responded on this issue, and I will be interested in
any more information about newer or updated sources for AV
troubleshooting.

Doris A. Shaughnessy, L.M.S.             Home: 404-992-7569
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School        Work: 404-241-3063
2560 Tilson Road                         mstddsx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu
Decatur, GA 30032