Audio / Video inventory for buildings

I was hoping to gather some data around what wards and branches, along with STS, expectations of the availability for A/V in our buildings? Can you post your thoughts, or what you've learned is supposed to be in the Materials Center/Libraries?

By observation only:
1 Large TV w DVD/VCR combo - 1 cart
2 smaller TV w/ DVD/VCR combo - 2 carts
If the building has a satellite, a functioning Projector is required

With my new Stake Center we received the following
4 DVD/Projector stand alone units w/ HDMI inputs (no instruction was given, but the assumption is that this is for Seminary)
3 Projectors - (2) For the 2 projector screens in the chapel and the cultural hall, (1) for the building (assuming)
1 Large LCD screen w DVD/VCR combo - 1 cart
4 smaller TV/DVD combos that can be carried in a bag from room to room
1 low-end HD Camera

To me this is a vast difference, and I'd like to work with my physical facilities and FM to see if we can move the A/V equipment in support of the online tools being more available - I've got LDSAccess in all my buildings now, full building coverage, so my next step is to help members use the tools in their lesson plans, training, etc...
What say ye? Anyone else our there with new buildings can confirm equipment received etc...????

JohnShaw wrote:By observation only:
1 Large TV w DVD/VCR combo - 1 cart
2 smaller TV w/ DVD/VCR combo - 2 carts
If the building has a satellite, a functioning Projector is required

That's a lot closer to what our stake center has then the second list.

Working with my Stake PFR and our Stake Sunday School President, we have compiled an inventory list of TV, VCR, and DVD technology. We were extremely surprised by what we discovered. We have an average manufacture date of 1999 for our LARGE CRT Televisions, our average manufacture date for our 13 in TV/VCR combos is 1997. We have televisions with no RCA inputs where someone put in a RF Modulator to get a DVD or VCR working for the television, (in 3 buildings this is the case). As far as I can see we haven't had a TV replaced since 2003, until this year, one unit did receive a replacement 32 in LCD for a broken TV. We also have a new building that I've referenced above.

We are a bit surprised that there isn't some kind of automated upgrade system like there is for most things in the buildings, each year as we complete the FM budgeting, a list is printed out for each building. I've never seen a computer or a tv on that list, but it just seems like it should be there. Why do we have a rotation to replace tables, chairs, desks, but not computers, or audio/video equipment? At least we don't in my FM group.

I did find some guidelines from our FM regarding equipment (they look very old, copies, of copies, of faxes, I am suspicious that they are not the most recent communication), and when to consider repair vs replacement, but the definitions include Working and non-Working - Is a television that has a loud annoying hiss or the screen is a bit squiggly, or has 1 inch black screen all the way around.... is that non-functioning? To one generation, that might be defined as working just fine, to another it might not.

Does anyone else have experience as a PFR or working with FM with regard to audio/video equipment in materials centers? Can you help us figure out what we seem to be missing in our interaction?

JohnShaw wrote:We are a bit surprised that there isn't some kind of automated upgrade system like there is for most things in the buildings, each year as we complete the FM budgeting, a list is printed out for each building. I've never seen a computer or a tv on that list, but it just seems like it should be there.

There is a replacement cycle for computers found in Policies and Guidelines for Computers Used by Clerks for Church Record Keeping. It is on a five year cycle. But that cycle is a recommendation that was suspended for a couple of years back in 2009 due to Church wide FM budget constraints. We should be back on that cycle now. But the final decision rests with the FM Group based on their budgeting priorities.

JohnShaw wrote:I did find some guidelines from our FM regarding equipment (they look very old, copies, of copies, of faxes, I am suspicious that they are not the most recent communication), and when to consider repair vs replacement, but the definitions include Working and non-Working - Is a television that has a loud annoying hiss or the screen is a bit squiggly, or has 1 inch black screen all the way around.... is that non-functioning?

When I was an STS I was also concerned about the dated inventory of audio and video equipment. I was told something similar to what you have posted - that they would be replaced when malfunctioning and cannot be repaired. I believe the definition of malfunctioning, or non-working, is subjective. To me the definition of malfunctioning is when the device cannot be used for its intended purpose or that its operation adversely affects or detracts from the presentation. Your examples all fit my criteria.

My requests for replacements were denied due to budget constraints. I placed the items I thought needed replacing on a list that I never was able to follow through on because I moved out of state.

I like that definition as well, non-Working to me is not the same as does it turn on or not, however, evangelizing that position is taking some time. I'm enlisting my Stake Sunday School president as well, we're hoping to come at in from multiple fronts. I don't expect anything to immediately change, but hope that over the next couple of years we can get where we need to be.

I did get upgrades to all our 8 year old clerk computers in 2010, so that worked out for me on that one, but with the specific policy you referenced it isn't that hard for the Stake President to make it happen. The murky water around A/V is a bit different, it would be good to have some kind of official policy around that as well.. Subjective is very difficult to budget for, it is actually surprising that there isn't a defined rotation like there is for many things in the buildings.

JohnShaw wrote:The murky water around A/V is a bit different, it would be good to have some kind of official policy around that as well.. Subjective is very difficult to budget for, it is actually surprising that there isn't a defined rotation like there is for many things in the buildings.

I think A/V is different in that it doesn't tend to go out of date like a computer. A TV is a TV is a TV as long as it's working properly. Does it really matter if it's CRT or flat-screen?

If you feel that things are going out of date, (it's too small, or too heavy) the best time to bring it up with the FM group is when they are planning next year's budget. They're much less open to changes once they have to follow a budget.

I am dealing with this issue in our stake, our building is not the stake center but it is the building used for seminary where 8-10 classes are held each morning. A/V has been an ongoing challenge in this building. There are 2 TVs with DVD players and no portable audio players w/speakers, and no projector. Seminary teachers have bought and brought in their own TV/DVD combos that they keep in their closets.

Now with Internet in the building and the growing interest for using LDS Media Library content including MormonMessages videos in classrooms on Sunday, the A/V equipment has become inadequate. Currently those using video from lds.org / youtube.com are having to download them from home and either burn to DVD and use the TV/DVD carts in the building, or download from home and play off their computer with their small screen in the classroom. The building does not have an LCD projector, but few bring in their personal projector. The response from our facilities group was the same: policy is that they can only replace A/V equipment if it is broken. Our Bishop is about to tell the stake we are going to buy two TVs to help Seminary and the 3 wards in our building and if the stake wants to help great, if not, the 3 wards will split it with budget money.

Ideally, there should be an easy way for teachers to access and play any content from the excellent LDS.org Media Library in the building. If there was an Internet LCD TV and the appropriate apps loaded on there such as LDS Gospel Library that can download videos or Mormon Channel (from Android market? such as on a Google TV??), that would be great. An AppleTV is another option that can access all MormonMessages via a Podcast. I want our members to be able to easily use (and it works reliably) anything in the Media Library!

kcmcbride wrote:Ideally, there should be an easy way for teachers to access and play any content from the excellent LDS.org Media Library in the building. If there was an Internet LCD TV and the appropriate apps loaded on there such as LDS Gospel Library that can download videos or Mormon Channel (from Android market? such as on a Google TV??), that would be great. An AppleTV is another option that can access all MormonMessages via a Podcast. I want our members to be able to easily use (and it works reliably) anything in the Media Library!

From what I understand in other areas in the board, the church has recognized each of these issues, and are walking through different content scenarios, one idea that I have heard mentioned earlier is a media server in each building that synch's content during the week, and then uses the high-bandwidth local network (wireless or lan) to deliver the media content. Roku might be a device that you could look at and the Mormon Channel on there. I am looking at providing them on each of our LCD/DVD combos + the 32 in TV.

JohnShaw wrote:From what I understand in other areas in the board, the church has recognized each of these issues, and are walking through different content scenarios, one idea that I have heard mentioned earlier is a media server in each building that synch's content during the week, and then uses the high-bandwidth local network (wireless or lan) to deliver the media content. Roku might be a device that you could look at and the Mormon Channel on there. I am looking at providing them on each of our LCD/DVD combos + the 32 in TV.

With the exception of live content, it seems to me the simplest method is if the church provides a ISO image to download and burn the content to DVD. However, they do tend to be large. That would allow use of existing equipment in the meetinghouse and well as ease of use. The Internet becomes problematic as you have to have connectivity and enough bandwidth to support all those classes.

Use of the Western Digital device could be a useful item at the ward level. They're fairly inexpensive.

I went through our ward library today in response to some suggestions/issues from some of the Sunday School Teachers on the adequacy of the existing equipment. There are three old style CRT televisions on carts. All have VCR capability, but only one has a DVD player with it. Since the Sunday School curriculum has the adult Sunday School, and the Youth Sunday School in lock step on the lessons, if there is a video recommended for the lesson, it is likely that three will be needed.

Many of the Sunday School teachers, including myself, often bring in our own equipment: iPADs for small classes, computers with projectors and speakers for larger classes.

It would be ideal if the teachers had access to modern technology, including the LDS.org website, for teaching.

Some Ideas:
Modern LCD TVs are often web enabled and could be restricted to the local meeting house wireless. Internet safety is straight forward to address at the router by domain restrictions. A teacher would only need the LCD TV. For backward compatibility a DVD/VCR can go with the LCD TV.

At home today I used my iPhone to play locally stored church video content downloaded from the internet on my LCD TV. A simple iPAD could do the same thing, and for small classes that is all that is needed. A substantial amount of church content will fit on such a device readily, and even the 16GB model will handle probably all the video that is referenced in all the manuals combined. POD casts of general conference can be kept as well or dynamically downloaded as needed for short clips in lessons.

As an example, I loaned my iPAD to a technology novice primary teacher today for a lesson and it was easier and faster for her to use than rolling in a TV and DVD player from the library. No remote, no RCA cables, no power cord to route, etc.

In any case, a regular technology inventory and update schedule for the buildings would be a great benefit.

Regards,
Adam

Adam,

This experience, and my own validate one of my major issues of how this is working... The well off and wealthy have the means to 'bring in their own stuff' those not in that position can't. So we are enabling a problem the current budgeting was meant to try and eliminate. The wealthy can teach well, the non-wealthy must use the JUNK that exists in our meetinghouses, because there is no consistent Policy regarding AV equipment. If there were a policy like there is for clerk computers, and material center copiers, we could eliminate all our issues... or at least address them consistently.

And the direction from the scriptures is, "teach with the spirit." I have never seen "teach with the technology" anywhere in the Standard Works. Now, don't get me wrong, I love technology as much as the next person. However, I have seen examples where the instruction revolved around the technology instead of around the Spirit and the message. We would do well to keep the priorities straight.

I'll never forget a few years ago when our bishop stood at the pulpit to speak in Sacrament meeting, looked down at his device, turned ashen, and admitted, "I think I just deleted my talk."

Dave,

I totally agree with the 'teach with the spirit' method, that seems a no brainer, but thanks for that reminder. Apparently, based on the actual existence of the material, 'The Church' or the 'living oracles' provide materials to enhance our classroom learning for Sunday School and Seminary particularly, but other classes as well, including Leadership training. I believe their intention is that 'when moved upon by the spirit' a teacher could enhance their lesson by choosing to 'follow the spirit' and show a dvd, or mormon message, World Wide Leadership Training, portion of a conference address. The Church provides for this inspiration with equipment that is shared in a building.

If we do not make the equipment modern, and equitable between the haves and the have nots --> then we take away a teacher's ability to respond to the inspiration they would receive to show some enhanced materials. Say Sis. Brown is 'inspired by the spirit' to show 'Cipher in the Snow' or 'The Last Leaf' or the David Archuleta final American Idol performance, we should be able to support that inspiration, rather than say... well, sorry, you were 'led by the spirit' to show that video, but you can't... because you are poor, and your meetinghouse AV is a bunch of Junk that never works. But hey, if you're wealthy and can bring in your 60 in LCD, with your laptop that has HDMI output, then you can respond to that inspiration.

Yes, this is a bit over-the-top... but I hope it makes my point.

JohnShaw wrote:equitable between the haves and the have nots

How far are you going to push that? If someone doesn't own a given device, they're probably not going to be able to use it effectively if the library has one.

JohnShaw wrote:Say Sis. Brown is 'inspired by the spirit' to show 'Cipher in the Snow' or 'The Last Leaf' or the David Archuleta final American Idol performance, we should be able to support that inspiration,

Which raises an interesting question. From whence does that last bit of inspiration come from? Perhaps it would be best of teachers stick to what's in the library.

JohnShaw wrote:But hey, if you're wealthy and can bring in your 60 in LCD, with your laptop that has HDMI output

If I were bishop, I'd allow the laptop as a playback device, but tell the member to leave the LCD TV at home. The TV sets an unfair expectation on the next teacher (not to mention exposing their equipment to damage from constantly transporting it), but the laptop is what they are comfortable in using. What I don't want to see is a teacher fumbling with technology they are not familiar with.

As long as the library has a current catalog of media and matching playback devices, I think they're doing fine. It doesn't have to be big-screen blu-ray in 1080p surround-sound fed by a media server. Where is the proper line in spending the widow's mite?

Just because it's in the library, doesn't mean it will get used.

Ahh... you caught my joke about David Archuleta... I was going to use the Osmonds reunion, but thought maybe I'd bring my Mormon entertainer reference to the 21st century.....

Of course, I wasn't serious about the TV, though I have seen it done.

Windows Mite accounted for in my stake.... no worries there.. 25 year old televisions that only have an RF connector that MUST be held in place by a person while the VCR or the DVD is being played, as long as the correct cables are plugged into the RF modulator hanging off the back.

I believe our needs are simple

A working device that doesn't detract from the spirit while attempting to use the lesson enhancement, and works first time. There is a large difference to me between clicking Open, putting in a dvd, and pressing play --> and someone trying to figure out which cable goes where, why does my vcr or dvd have 3 cables (red/white/yellow) and my tv only has 2 and they are both yellow. What happens when the RF modulator is unplugged, or isn't connected via the RF connector. I connect the VCR directly to the RF, and need to unplug the RF modulator to use it, but the dvd plugs into the RF modulator, and the VCR must be unplugged from the TV for the DVD to work. You might think this is a joke, but it happens in my stake weekly.

Simple, works, don't need to be an AV geek to get it to work.... doesn't seem like a large ask

JohnShaw wrote:that MUST be held in place by a person while the VCR or the DVD is being played

I see that as grounds for repair/replacement.

JohnShaw wrote:and someone trying to figure out which cable goes where, why does my vcr or dvd have 3 cables (red/white/yellow) and my tv only has 2 and they are both yellow. What happens when the RF modulator is unplugged, or isn't connected via the RF connector. I connect the VCR directly to the RF, and need to unplug the RF modulator to use it, but the dvd plugs into the RF modulator, and the VCR must be unplugged from the TV for the DVD to work. You might think this is a joke, but it happens in my stake weekly.

I would expect a cart to have a TV and a VCR, DVD, or DVD/VCR all wired up and ready to go. Perhaps with a set of instructions as to how things should be set. (TV on CH 3, etc.) But I've noticed the carts in our library frequently seem to have things not connected.

This is less of a technical issue then breaking out the wooden ruler to use on the knuckles of those who don't put things back. The only technical fix for this problem is to get all-in-one TV/VCR/DVD. Then only wire is the power wire. The members usually get that figured out. <grin>

This is what the Keizer, Oregon stake has done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsF6GlqWvno