Apologies for cross-posting
>From my perspective, exciting news…. Walter Forsberg and Erik Piil's research
>on VHS tape deterioration has been published!
Forsberg along with Howard Besser presented on his research at the 2013
National Media Market in the session "Video at Risk: Strategies for Preserving
Commercial Video Collections in Research Libraries". But now the research in
all it's fine detail is available.
Since "deterioration" is one of the factors that libraries can use to invoke
duplication provisions of Section 108 of copyright law, this research is a
critical addition to the professional literature.
Citation:
Forsberg, W. & Piil, E. (2014). Tune in, turn on, drop out. In S. Hastings
(Ed.) Annual Review of Cultural Heritage
Informatics (pp.213-242). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Abstract from the publication:
"Analog videotape, an imperfect moving image technology format since its
introduction, is reaching the end of its life cycle. However, large quantities
of out-of-print and irreplaceable VHS titles still comprise significant
portions of library and archival collections and circulations. Given the need
to preserve this content, this study investigates the use of the "dropout";
metric (counts of disruptions in the video signal) for determining whether
libraries and archives can invoke their rights of reproduc- tion under the
United States Copyright Act. Videotape technology and deterioration problems
are explained and prior deterioration studies are reviewed. Dropout tests of
four pairs of commercially produced VHS titles are conducted and relationships
between videotape deterioration as measured by dropout counts, circulation
statistics, and manufacturing quality control standards are evaluated. Offering
noninvasive evidence of videotape deterioration, quantified dropout counts
appear to provide libraries and archives with an objective measure to meet the
vague "deterioration"; standard of the Copyright Act."
Enjoy!
-deg
deg farrelly
ShareStream Administrator/Media Librarian
Arizona State University Libraries
Tempe, AZ 85287-1006
602.332.3103
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
distributors.
