I thought it best to respond to everyone who received this question. And thank 
you for posing it!

I'm sorry I didn't provide that background information. It pains me to toss 
some of these things, but it's happened before. When I heard that my former 
employer of 4 years actually threw away my tape library after the operation 
shut down, I was heartbroken! Thankfully a co-worker was able to salvage some 
things. In this instance, I just don't have the legal rights to re-use. Almost 
everything up for grabs comes from client projects. Once we've edited or 
produced it, the client has final say on elements. Elements may include raw 
b-roll of a long forgotten meeting, graphic reels and meltdowns or clones of 
masters. Original programming is all kept, and ALL masters are saved, client 
and in-house, for every project we've done.

I added a note to the page if you'd like further details. Thanks for bringing 
this up JMSchwartz!
-Laura Fu

http://wlfu.wordpress.com/used-tapes-for-free/

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 6:18 PM
To: Laura Fu
Cc: Video Round Table; AMIA Listserv; Chicago Area Archivists 
([email protected]); OLAC Listserv 
([email protected]); SAA ([email protected]); 
([email protected]); ([email protected])
Subject: Re: Free tapes to a better home!!

Dear All,

I applaud Laura for trying to recycle these materials, but I am perplexed:  
"old and obsolete materials? new assets?" = an interesting twist when 
materiality is privileged.

Surely the archival question is, "What is being destroyed when these materials 
are wiped clean for re-use?"  This we are not told.  Imagine the "visual assets 
manager" for Corbis selling glass or silver?

Laura - is it fair to ask what is the fate of the content?  Before leaping to 
accept your generous offer, I think archivists and others would like to know 
whether historical footage is -- or should be --  preseved or whether the 
materials on offer are more than "assets" in the material sense.

Laura is surely not the only one in this (uncomfortable) position and probably 
there are others who are not trying as hard to recycle, BUT the larger question 
in the space-strapped, short-on-staff digital age is, what is happening to the 
archival record?  And what is the "future" of the "past" when "space" - 
physical or digital - is not  allocated for archival preservation.

Thanks Laura for raising this issue and, of course, for making the materials 
known and available.

JMSchwartz
Ottawa






----- Original Message -----
From: Laura Fu <[email protected]>
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 6:40 pm
Subject: Free tapes to a better home!!
To: Video Round Table <[email protected]>, AMIA Listserv <[email protected]>, 
"Chicago Area Archivists ([email protected])" 
<[email protected]>, "OLAC Listserv 
([email protected])" <[email protected]>, "SAA ([email protected])" 
<[email protected]>, " ([email protected])" 
<[email protected]>, " ([email protected])" 
<[email protected]>

> ** Apologies for all cross-postings! **
>
> Please share this with any TV/Film students who may be
> interested. Thanks!
>
> I am once again trying to get rid of old and obsolete materials.
> Since I really need the physical space, I'm now offering these
> unwanted materials for free. I just ask that you pay for
> shipping or arrange for your own pick-up. Sorry, I can't
> deliver! Monetary donations will of course be accepted, but at
> this point, I just need to clear out the room to make way for
> new assets.
>
> Basically, it's a lot of used and/or obsolete materials. You may
> not reuse footage; all erasable tapes will be erased prior to
> donating, and a signed non-disclosure form is required. Since I
> do not have access to a scale over 3 lbs, I cannot supply
> weights. FedEx (billed to recipient) or USPS Priority Mail flat-
> rate boxes are the best options for shipping. For local pick-up,
> most any time between 8:30-5:30 will work.
>
> http://wlfu.wordpress.com/used-tapes-for-free/
>
> I have a ton more since the photos were taken, so there's a
> treasure chest of random materials. Please help me send them to
> a better home! Maybe the *FREE* part will get some more
> interested parties.
> -Laura
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> AnswersMedia
> Laura Fu
> Video Assets Manager
>
> 400 W. Erie
> Chicago, IL 60654
> P: 312.421.0113 ext.5160
> F: 312.421.1457
> [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
>
> www.answersmediainc.com<http://www.answersmediainc.com/>
> www.answerstv.com<http://www.answerstv.com/>
>
> P Before printing, please think about the environment
>
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