Apologies for cross-posting
>From my perspective, exciting newsŠ. 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.
