Audiovisual
Overview
Begin by separating items on paper and realia from audiovisual media in the collection. After isolating these media, organize them according to the scheme below. Note: If the donor has already organized the material in the following way, then the order may remain unchanged.
Sorting
Segregate by medium; thereunder by format; thereunder by sub-format (typically, speed and/or size); and finally alphabetically by title. Materials are divided by format and not intellectually because different media, formats, and sub-formats have different preservation requirements. Two copies of the same title (for example, the recording a song) might therefore be separated from each other if one is on an audiocassette and the other on a vinyl LP. This is done purely for reasons of preservation.
Audio media (i.e., solely audio, not containing visual elements)
Digital discs
- Compact disc (CD)
- Laser disc (LD)
Magnetic tapes
- Digital audiotape (DAT)
- Micro cassette (e.g., from hand-held recording devices)
- Reel-to-reel tape
- Standard audiocassette
Phonograph records
- Metal
- Vinyl
- Wax
Visual media (i.e., either solely visual, as in silent films, or audio and visual combined) Digital discs
- Digital video disc (DVD)
- Laser disc (LD)
Film
- Acetate
- Nitrocellulose
- Polyester
Videotapes
- Betacam
- Video Home System (VHS)
Once the media have been organized according to the scheme above, consult the Preservation Librarian for proper archival housing. Preserve original housing (jackets, sleeves, cases, etc.) separately from the audiovisual material. In many instances the original housing is not only historically significant but may also contain manuscript notes by the donor or others.
If the original housing of audiovisual media has different types of material intermixed (e.g., an LP containing a letter stuck in its jacket), remove the item(s) and move to its proper series. Consult the curator as to whether a note should be made of the item's original location in the collection.
Note: If the collection contains documents on compact disc or other computer-disc format, print out the documents, put them in the appropriate series, and keep the disc(s) with the documents in the appropriate housing. The rationale for this policy is that in these cases, the electronic form of the document is merely a simulacrum of what would otherwise exist on paper. That is, an electronic version of a document is not considered a different kind of object than a paper version--in contrast, for example, to a CD of recorded music.
Additional Sorting and Handling Considerations Guiding principle: Avoid doing anything that could degrade or compromise the playability of the media.
Audiovisual media should, ideally, be kept in a dark, cool environment.
When not actively working with an item, keep it in its housing, i.e., do not leave out exposed in work areas or stacks. If the media came to the library without adequate housing, consult the Preservation Librarian.
Avoid touching playing surfaces when working with audiovisual media. If necessary, use white cotton gloves.
If an item is damaged (e.g., torn, broken, cracked), consult the Preservation Librarian.
Phonograph records (all media) should be stored vertically in archival paper sleeves. Tape media (e.g., audiocassette, reel-to-reel, film, etc.) should be stored horizontally in housing appropriate for each format.
Cataloging Examples
(1) Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849. Valses : 1 phonograph record ; EMI Records, 2006. 1 folder. Stephen Kovacevich, piano. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, July 14-19, 2005.
Use AAT term for format of audio recording.
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h2. Audiovisual
h3. Overview
Avoid actions that could compromise the playability of the media (or impact Houghton computer equipment).
A few notes have been made below about proper treatment of audiovisual material, but, in general, consult the Preservation Librarian only if there are immediate questions; the end-processing team will consult if necessary on appropriate housing.
For audiovisual media that come with other types of material (e.g., an LP with a letter inserted into the jacket), move the non-A/V item(s) to the appropriate series, noting the removed item's original location if there is association that should be recorded.
Separate out audiovisual media in the collection IF there are enough that special housing will clearly be called for AND there is no overriding original order that should be maintained. If there are just a few instances of media in the collection, they may be left in their proper series, and the end-processors will handle placement/housing.
If isolating the media, organize them according to the scheme below.
h3. Sorting
Segregate physically by medium; then by format; then by sub-format (typically, speed and/or size); and finally alphabetically by title. Materials are arranged by format and not intellectually because different media, formats, and sub-formats have different preservation requirements. Two copies of the same title (for example, the recording of a song) might therefore be separated physically from each other if one is on an audiocassette and the other on a vinyl LP.
The two may be brought together intellectually in the finding aid, however, in various ways:
* if everything in a particular format is housed together separate from the rest of the collection, you may describe material intellectually and use <physloc> tags to designate the separate physical location
* you may describe material in groups by physical format and use <ref> tags to "see also" titles, composers, etc.
*Audio media (i.e., solely audio, not containing visual elements)*
Digital discs
· Compact disc (CD)
· Laser disc (LD)
Magnetic tape
· Digital audiotape (DAT)
· Microcassette
· Reel-to-reel tape
· audiocassette
Phonograph records
· metal
· vinyl
· wax
*Visual media (i.e., either solely visual, as in silent films, or audio and visual combined)*
Digital discs
· Digital video disc (DVD)
· Laser disc (LD)
Film
· Acetate
· Nitrocellulose
· Polyester
Videotapes
· Betacam
· Video Home System (VHS)
· U-matic, etc.
Once the media have been organized according to the scheme above, consult the Preservation Librarian for proper archival housing. Preserve original housing (jackets, sleeves, cases, etc.), if historically significant and/or carrying significant manuscript notes, separately from the audiovisual material.
Note: If the collection contains documents in a simple file structure on compact disc or other computer-disc format, consider arranging to print out the documents. (This must be done on a designated machine other than a staff computer to avoid transferring malware.) Put copies in the appropriate series, and keep the disc(s) with the documents in appropriate housing. The electronic version of a single document is not considered intellectually different from a paper version--in contrast, for example, to a CD of recorded music or a database on a disc.
*Additional handling and storage considerations:*
Audiovisual media should ideally be kept in a dark, cool environment.
When not actively working with an item, keep it in its housing; do not leave exposed in work areas or stacks. If the media came to the library without adequate housing, consult the Preservation Librarian.
Avoid touching playing surfaces when working with audiovisual media. If necessary, use white cotton gloves.
If an item is damaged (e.g., torn, broken, cracked), consult the Preservation Librarian.
Phonograph records should be stored vertically in archival paper sleeves. Tape media (e.g., audiocassette, reel-to-reel, film, etc.) should be stored horizontally in housing appropriate for each format.
h3. Cataloging Examples
(1) Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849. Valses : 1 phonograph record ; EMI Records, 2006. 1 folder. Stephen Kovacevich, piano. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, July 14-19, 2005.
Use AAT term for format of audio recording.
[EAD example for Audio|Examples of folder-level mark-up#audio] item <!-- /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-language:HE;} -->*Audio media (i.e., solely audio, not containing visual elements)*
Digital discs
· Compact disc (CD)
· Laser disc (LD)
Magnetic tape
· Digital audiotape (DAT)
· Microcassette
· Reel-to-reel tape
· audiocassette
Phonograph records
· metal
· vinyl
· wax
*Visual media (i.e., either solely visual, as in silent films, or audio and visual combined)*
Digital discs
· Digital video disc (DVD)
· Laser disc (LD)
Film
· Acetate
· Nitrocellulose
· Polyester
Videotapes
· Betacam
· Video Home System (VHS)
· U-matic, etc.
Once the media have been organized according to the scheme above, consult the Preservation Librarian for proper archival housing. Preserve original housing (jackets, sleeves, cases, etc.), if historically significant and/or carrying significant manuscript notes, separately from the audiovisual material.
Note: If the collection contains documents in a simple file structure on compact disc or other computer-disc format, consider arranging to print out the documents. (This must be done on a designated machine other than a staff computer to avoid transferring malware.) Put copies in the appropriate series, and keep the disc(s) with the documents in appropriate housing. The electronic version of a single document is not considered intellectually different from a paper version--in contrast, for example, to a CD of recorded music or a database on a disc.
*Additional handling and storage considerations:*
Audiovisual media should ideally be kept in a dark, cool environment.
When not actively working with an item, keep it in its housing; do not leave exposed in work areas or stacks. If the media came to the library without adequate housing, consult the Preservation Librarian.
Avoid touching playing surfaces when working with audiovisual media. If necessary, use white cotton gloves.
If an item is damaged (e.g., torn, broken, cracked), consult the Preservation Librarian.
Phonograph records should be stored vertically in archival paper sleeves. Tape media (e.g., audiocassette, reel-to-reel, film, etc.) should be stored horizontally in housing appropriate for each format.<!-- /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-language:HE;} -->*Audio media (i.e., solely audio, not containing visual elements)*
Digital discs
· Compact disc (CD)
· Laser disc (LD)
Magnetic tape
· Digital audiotape (DAT)
· Microcassette
· Reel-to-reel tape
· audiocassette
Phonograph records
· metal
· vinyl
· wax
*Visual media (i.e., either solely visual, as in silent films, or audio and visual combined)*
Digital discs
· Digital video disc (DVD)
· Laser disc (LD)
Film
· Acetate
· Nitrocellulose
· Polyester
Videotapes
· Betacam
· Video Home System (VHS)
· U-matic, etc.
Once the media have been organized according to the scheme above, consult the Preservation Librarian for proper archival housing. Preserve original housing (jackets, sleeves, cases, etc.), if historically significant and/or carrying significant manuscript notes, separately from the audiovisual material.
Note: If the collection contains documents in a simple file structure on compact disc or other computer-disc format, consider arranging to print out the documents. (This must be done on a designated machine other than a staff computer to avoid transferring malware.) Put copies in the appropriate series, and keep the disc(s) with the documents in appropriate housing. The electronic version of a single document is not considered intellectually different from a paper version--in contrast, for example, to a CD of recorded music or a database on a disc.
*Additional handling and storage considerations:*
Audiovisual media should ideally be kept in a dark, cool environment.
When not actively working with an item, keep it in its housing; do not leave exposed in work areas or stacks. If the media came to the library without adequate housing, consult the Preservation Librarian.
Avoid touching playing surfaces when working with audiovisual media. If necessary, use white cotton gloves.
If an item is damaged (e.g., torn, broken, cracked), consult the Preservation Librarian.
Phonograph records should be stored vertically in archival paper sleeves. Tape media (e.g., audiocassette, reel-to-reel, film, etc.) should be stored horizontally in housing appropriate for each format. |