Media characteristics and environmental requirements

Private medium	Number of users	Requires equipment	Requires light control	Requires room control	Makes sound	Utilized in one sitting	Carrel beneficial	Requires room
Printed  page	1	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Microforms	1	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Slides or  flimstrips (silent)	1	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Group	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Slides or  filmstrips (sound)	1	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Group	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Audio recording disk and tape	1	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Group	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Motion picture film (sound)	1	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Group	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Television	1	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Group	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Flat visuals (e.g. maps, charts,&nbsp pictures, etc.)	1	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
	Group	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Overhead transparencies	Group	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Computers	1	Yes	No	No	Yes No	Yes &  No	Yes	No
	Group	Yes	No	No	Yes No	Yes & No	No	No

Cabeceiras, James. “The Multimedia Library: Materials Selection and Use.” 3^rd ed. San Diego: Academic Press, 1991.