Halifax Public Libraries, unnamed university look at buying Video Difference DVDs

There may be a way to save Halifax's largest collection of rare cinematic titles. 

Video Difference, a 34-year-old iconic Halifax video rental business, is slated to close after selling off its inventory starting August 20.  

The store owner and founder confirmed Friday that Halifax Public Libraries and a local university have each approached him about acquiring its DVD collection of television and films.

Video Difference owner Tom Michael wouldn't reveal which university expressed interest, but said "in both cases, it's contingent on funding."

'Huge gift for Halifax'

A film professor at Saint Mary's University is applauding the idea, saying the collection is vital for accessibility and the academic study of film.

"When I found out that Video Difference was closing, I did the Macaulay Culkin Home Alone scream, because [the business plays] such an important role," associate professor Jennifer VanderBurgh said.

"Keeping it all together, keeping it in one place — and keeping it publicly accessible would be a huge gift to Halifax."

Staff sharing sales

Long-time staff will share the proceeds of DVD sales, Michael said.

"Our motivation is to try to get the highest dollar we can for our product, whether that be to an institution or whether it be to the public," he said.

'Strongly motivated' to keep collection intact

At the same time, the team would like to keep the collection, carefully curated over decades, "as intact as possible," Michael said.

"If that was possible, we're strongly motivated to make that happen," he said.

Library 'just gathering some facts'

A spokeswoman for the Halifax Public Libraries said it's too early to speak in detail about any potential acquisition.

"We're just gathering some facts. We haven't come to any decisions or agreements yet," collections development manager Cynthia Gatto said.

Gatto said the Video Difference collection is interesting because it includes many DVD titles now out of print — which are impossible to acquire elsewhere.

"They have some interesting foreign films. They have an LGBTQ collection ... British television series that we mightn't have been able to get or have lost," she said.

'The issue is time'

Halifax District 7 Coun. Waye Mason said he's enthusiastic about the possibility of keeping the Video Difference collection in the public realm, through a local university, in the public library system, or both.

"The issue is time, of course. The business is in the process of shutting down, so everyone has to make decisions really quickly," he said.

Mason said he spoke as a councillor, though he also sits on the board of Halifax Public Libraries.

Councillor 'positive' about fundraising

Crowdfunding efforts or direct donations from prominent members of Nova Scotia's film industry could help Halifax Public Libraries defray purchase costs, he said.

"I'm actually pretty positive that there's ways to raise the money," he said.

The public library has seen a strong demand for DVDs, he said. Library staff report the current public collection contains about 140,000 DVDs, borrowed around 1.5 million times a year, he said.

The Video Difference collection contains 40,000 titles, or a total of 60,000 discs.

"People still borrow DVDs a lot," Mason said.

"It's a combination of people who just don't want to have cable any more and want to see that rare movie. It's people who have an assignment for school. It's people who can't afford the internet."