Reporter Volume 26, No.20 March 9, 1995

In a special study room near Lockwood Library's main reference area,
UB students and faculty can now immerse themselves in an encyclopedic
panorama of Italian civilization -- the subject of the libraries'
first laser disk. It visually presents not only Italian art,
architecture and history, but also the country's landscape, cities,
flora and fauna, politics, military battles, etc.
	The UB community can experience laser information products,
now that Lockwood has acquired a Pioneer laser disk player and a Sony
20-inch stereo color monitor. Laser technology has arrived at the
University Libraries thanks to a gift from the Robert and Marion de
Mauriac North Library Fund.
	In education and research, laser disks are increasingly used
for interactive teaching and learning, especially in art, art history
and architecture. One disk can hold vivid reproductions of the
contents of entire museums; present an active multimedia cultural
history of a civilization, country or genre; or comprehensively survey
the works of an artist or school.
	This technology can integrate visual material, sound, music,
motion, and text. In the commercial realm, laser disks are beginning
to replace videotapes as a medium for movies.
	The Art and Art History Departments are especially
enthusiastic about the new technology. Lockwood has several additional
laser disk products under consideration, including "Van Gogh
Revisited," "Masterpieces of Italian Art Series," "The First Emperor
of China," and "Pioneer Great Artists Series."