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Write a general scope and content note about the media as part of the processing plan. Determine the parameters of description. Record if most titles are those of the donor, or were created during processing. If all the media are audiocassettes, you do not need to list "audiocassette" after every description, but you do need to say in the scope note something like:
Materials are audiocassettes unless otherwise noted.
or
Materials are VHS unless otherwise noted.
Description in inventory
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In general, arrange audiovisual materials by format, and then by date. If there are a large number of tapes and the creation of subject-related subseries would be helpful for researchers, discuss options with your team lead and Joanne.
The description/listing of each tape should consist of four parts:
Title. Description. Date. Time.
example from the Judy Chicago Audiotape Collection:
Crosstalk Radio Show. Three trustees from the University of the District of Columbia discuss the possible acquisition of The Dinner Party and the ensuing controversy. Aired on WUDC. ca.1990. 45 min.
It's often not necessary to listen to each tape in its entirety. Generally you only need to listen/view the beginning and end to make sure the tape is labeled correctly and to ascertain important production data (and length). If unlabeled, a tape may require more time, but use best judgment. When describing the content of the tape, you need to pull out the important themes, but do not need to provide a frame-by-frame, or topic-by-topic, analysis. A good example of adequate content description is in the Blu Greenberg Audiovisual Collection.
[NEED HELP FROM JOANNE FOR THIS PART]
***would like to have info on how to list, e.g. Title, date. Format. Time or something like that. Processors want to know how to say how long something is
- Arrangement: There is often no meaningful original order to a/v materials. Hence, create arrangement, often using paper collection as guideline (in most cases this works, in some cases, materials are independent of each other). Generally, begin with personal materials, then professional; follow chronological order within each series (if no series, typically use chron order for entire collection).
- Assessment: l
- Appraisal: most important factor. Is this something worth adding to the collection and providing long-term access (both in terms of bibliographic records and preservation)?
- Discuss appraisal decisions and general arrangement of collections, with Joanne
Do your best to determine the actual time of the tape.If you cannot, you may use "ca.60 min." using the length of the entire tape.
Be sure to add following note to the Access Restrictions section of the finding aid: Appointment required for access to audiovisual material.
Finding aid examples
Lamaze International moving image collection http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:RAD.SCHL:sch01437
June Jordan audiotapes http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:RAD.SCHL:sch01211xx
xx audiotapes
Workflow
As part of beginning research on a collection, check to see if there is any A/V material.
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