Questions or orders can be placed via phone at 1-712-233-7529; email: larrys@scdiocese.org or FAX: 1-712-233-7598. Thank you for your understanding as we upgrade our service to you.


Click here to view the Media Center catalog in PDF.

1. Materials are to be reserved well in advance of the date to be used, preferably two weeks. This will provide ample time to select another title should the requested item be unavailable. 
2. Audio-visual materials are to be reserved by using the respective form (sample on page IV), through e-mail, by telephone, by FAX, or internet. 
3. When requesting A-V materials, the user should designate the actual date of use. Items may be kept through the "usage date" and mailed the following day. Those wishing to keep the item longer due to class cancellation, etc. should request an extension by phone. 
4. Materials should be returned and POSTMARKED the day after usage. It is important that materials are returned promptly because others may be waiting to use them. Failure to return materials on time makes it inconvenient for others. A fine of $1.00 per day will be assessed the user should violations occur. 
5. When possible, orders will be mailed six days before the date of use to allow time for previewing. Materials used by schools and parishes within Sioux City will be delivered and returned by courier during the school year. The courier delivers and picks up items on Monday, Wednesday and Friday when school is open. Items may be picked up if requested. 
6. All materials are checked before they are forwarded to the user. A replacement cost will be charged for items that are damaged or lost. 
7. Strict adherence to all copyright laws is mandatory.
8. Additional catalogs: $10.00
   

The Religious Education Media Center is a diocesan-wide system providing spiritual nourishment through various audiovisual materials. The center came about because of the dedicated interest in religious formation of all people by Monsignor James K. Lafferty and other members of the Diocesan Office of Education in cooperation with then-Bishop Frank Greteman. The major role of the Media Center is to help teachers and instructors of religious education to build the faith life of people of all ages. 

People today live in a technological society. The vast majority of people have access to television, radios, and movies. Much of what is seen and heard through these media is not beneficial to spiritual growth; and in fact, can be defined as harmful. It is another role of the Church to try to counter-balance these negative images with support for proper Christian values and beliefs. Vatican Council II realized the importance of media when they wrote the "Decree on the Instruments of Social Communication." In this was stated "Mother Church, to be sure, recognizes that if these instruments are rightly used, they bring solid nourishment and refinement of the Spirit, and to the spread and strengthening of God's own kingdom." It is this philosophy that has become the foundation of the Media Center. With proper use of audio-visual materials, people can be brought closer to the kingdom of God. 

The Religious Education Media Center came into existence in the spring of 1976, although much planning had been done before this time. The 1975 Diocesan Development Program (DDP) gave the office funds to begin planning, and the media center began. The Diocesan Media Center had the approval and complete support of Bishop Greteman. Bishop Greteman had always been intensely interested in the quality of education, especially religious education, and he saw that the center would be of great value to the diocese. The media would be available and suitable for all levels of religious formation from pre-school to adult. 

The Media Center purchased its first films from Father Mervin Hood who was then pastor of St. Mary's Church in Alton. Fr. Hood had formed his own media center called Leprechaun Visuals. With all his other responsibilities, the center became too time-consuming so he sold his films to the diocesan center. This made it possible for more people to be aware of the films available and made the films more accessible to all. 

The newly formed center began in June, 1976 on the first floor of the former Office of Education Building, located on the corner across the street from the present Central Catholic Offices. The audio-visuals themselves were located in the basement due to lack of space. The stay there was short as the new chancery was opened in late October of that same year. The Media Center is one section of the Diocesan Office of Education located on the second floor of the chancery. Because of the support for the Media Center that Bishop Greteman and Bishop Soens showed in the past and Bishop DiNardo gives today, the center has been able to grow into one of the largest and best-equipped offices in the country. The staff of the Media Center consists of a full-time director and a part-time assistant. Larry Sitzman, the present media director, was also the first director, being hired in June of 1976 to set up the office. 

In June, 1976, the center opened with an inventory of approximately 150 films, 500 filmstrips and 100 audio cassettes. In June, 1999 the center has an inventory of approximately 2,300 videos, 1,700 audio cassettes, 45 computer software, and 1,200 printed resources. The amount of media would make little difference if they were not used regularly. The rate has increased almost as quickly as the increase in media itself. March 1977 showed a usage rate of 180 items. In March 1984, the center distributed almost 1,000 audio-visuals for viewing. Today yearly usage rate for the diocese is between six and eight thousand items per year, with the bulk of these going out during the school year. The computerization of the center in 1987 made it possible to know where every single item is in seconds. 

In 1982 the first videocassette tape entered the center and soon became the popular mode. Ease of use and low cost created the demand for videos over films. The actual film within the video is not touched so there is less chance of damage. 16mm films which were originally purchased for $500.00 were soon available on video for $30.00. 

With videocassettes becoming more popular, fewer 16mm films and 35mm filmstrips, etc. were being produced and used. During the summer of 1994 all films, filmstrips, slides, and multi-media items were made available to the users of the diocese and given to the grade schools, high schools, parishes, and institutions. 

In April 1997 we began purchasing computer software and they became available through the Media Center by late summer. To usher in the new millenium the media center catalog was placed on the diocesan web page of the Internet in September of 1999.