Need help finding some old videotapes (thanks)

[Jaroslaw99]

I have been searching for over a year, have written to ex-gay watch, HRC, checked many many public libraries and video/dvd trading sites - have also written to about 30 Gay organizations in California and New York. The only (few) responses I get are "we don't have it."

Will be happy to put a deposit to borrow the following - I don't want to buy from the originators and assist the religious right (and actually, only #1 is available for purchase anyhow.) Keep in mind there are books by the same titltes, I am looking for the videotapes:

1. Gay Rights, Special Rights (Traditional Values Coalition)
2. The Homosexual Agenda (same)
3. The Straight Agenda (a spoof of the above)
4. Religious Apartheid (The Rutherford Institute)

Thanks again.

[Dash]

Jaroslaw...I just did a quick search of these titles on WorldCat...the online world library catalog. All of these titles are available in US libraries. I recommend that you visit your local public library (or university library, if you have borrowing rights at one) and request these by interlibrary loan. This is generally a free service by which libraries share their holdings with other libraries. I'm not sure...videocassettes might be a special case...libraries might hesitate to loan them out.

FYI, I did not actually find "The Homosexual Agenda"...but I found "The Gay Agenda." Also...I noticed that there was only one library that has "The Straight Agenda." That one might be hard to get under any circumstances.

Anyway...that's my only suggestion for now.

Good luck, and welcome!

[Daniel]

I recommend that you visit your local public library (or university library, if you have borrowing rights at one) and request these by interlibrary loan. This is generally a free service by which libraries share their holdings with other libraries. I'm not sure...videocassettes might be a special case...libraries might hesitate to loan them out.


I've done a great deal of research via interlibrary loan. It's not hard to do. Just be prepared to wait. A loan request can take up to 8 weeks- and in some cases longer- to show up at your library. That said, the wait can be worth it. And it's free- I've never been asked to pay a fee. Can't beat that.

And there is, of course, Ebay. You never know what you might find there.

[Jaroslaw99]

Thank you both (Daniel & Dash) for ideas -E-bay and Amazon have not had anything and they are tedious to look through. I checked several times.

However, I can't believe in all my searches, that no one mentioned Worldcat. I never knew such a thing existed. Unfortunately, my local library does not subscribe to MILE or OCLC, it is quite expensive.

I am going to contact the libraries that have them, but I have a sinking feeling they are not going to loan to an individual.

So, whoever wants to help me keep looking, I would greatly appreciate it.

[NathanATX]

Call your local university, college & high school librarians and ask if they can help. Librarians usually love "the hunt" for obscure information and helping patrons get the answers they need.

[Daniel]

Thank you both (Daniel & Dash) for ideas -E-bay and Amazon have not had anything and they are tedious to look through. I checked several times.

However, I can't believe in all my searches, that no one mentioned Worldcat. I never knew such a thing existed. Unfortunately, my local library does not subscribe to MILE or OCLC, it is quite expensive.

I am going to contact the libraries that have them, but I have a sinking feeling they are not going to loan to an individual.

So, whoever wants to help me keep looking, I would greatly appreciate it.

Silly me, I should have said: A library loans it to a library, and you can see it there, that is, of course, if they have an audio-visual department. The NYPL has this- and I take it for granted, I guess. Sorry. A big university- like Nathan has suggested- will help you possibly. One can often enter the library as a guest (I have done this numerous times- Yale- Princeton. Go dressed up and look professional- one is treated better.)

Also- a library (I have done this also) like the NYPL (New York Public Library) will give a 'pass' to another institution where the book/video you want to see is located. You first find out 'where' the book/video is via WorldCat or OCLC. Of course, being in a large metropolitan area helps for this kind of thing. The more libraries there are the better your chances are.

When you are at WorldCat- click on locations. If you have trouble, PM me and I will help you do this for your area. I have access (God Bless the NYPL) from home.