Hello,

There has been numerous posts on this listserv about the use of Section 108, 
and recycling vhs tapes.

I’m glad to know that many of you will be involved in the process to create a 
best practice guide to be posted to ALA Connect. I hope guidelines for 
discarding vhs tapes will also be included in that document.

I’m positive that we all follow guidelines similar to the one outlined by Jo 
Ann at UConn (see below) with some minor exceptions. I’m sure that we all 
engage in doing our best to donate or recycle old vhs tapes.

I will be giving a brief presentation on archiving and recycling vhs tapes in 
the near future.  I want to create a very basic slide for recycling vhs tapes, 
and I welcome your input to tell me if I’m missing something.

Suggested Tips to Discard VHS Tapes

Preface:  Follow best practice guidelines as outlined in Section 108, Copyright 
Act.  If space permits, preserve one master vhs copy in your collection in case 
archival replacements become damaged.
The following guidelines apply to the removal of duplicate vhs titles.


Ø  Remove the record from Catalog, Workflow, etc.

Ø  Is there a book sale at your academic institution?  Public Library?

Ø  Create a list of local businesses, such as Goodwill, shelters, prisons who 
may be willing to accept vhs donations.

Ø  Create a list of local, state, and national recycling centers.  Is there a 
cost associate with shipping?  Is it a do-it-yourself operation, or will the 
company pack the items for you?

Additional Resources:
GreenDisk Recycling Center:
http://greendisk.toysgowhere.com/

Data Media Source: Best Practices for Responsible Disposal of Tape Media (white 
paper)
http://www.datamediasource.com/download/DMS_%20Disposal_guidelines.pdf

How To Dispose VHS Tapes:
http://www.toysgowhere.com/how_5121738_dispose-vhs-tapes.html


Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Best,
Monique


At the University of Connecticut this is the process we follow. Since it is 
labor intensive and time consuming we invoke section 108 sparingly.


1.       Determine if the VHS is damaged, deteriorating, lost or stolen.

2.       Document damage, deterioration. This checklist developed by Kenneth 
Crews useful for ensuring i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. 
http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/files/2009/10/copyrightchecklist108preservation.pdf

3.       If found to be damaged/deteriorating, conduct due diligence search for 
evidence of new VHS or DVD for sale at a reasonable price. We use this 
checklist (Creative Commons license), http://aladinrc.wrlc.org/handle/1961/16025

4.       If no new VHS or DVD is found for sale then a DVD is made from the VHS.

5.       The VHS goes to our archive and does not circulate.

6.       The DVD goes on permanent reserve. The case is clearly marked, 
“Section 108 Copy: In Building Circulation Only. This material was reproduced 
under the provisions of Section 108 of United States Copyright Law and may be 
protected by copyright.” “For use at UConn Libraries only. No InterLibrary 
Loan. Does not include public performance rights but may be used in the 
classroom.” “Preservation copy of Archival VHS. Not to be used outside of the 
Library.”

7.       The catalog record includes this statement, “For Use at UConn 
Libraries only. No Interlibrary Loan. Does not include public performance 
rights but may be used in the classroom.” And the permanent location is “Sec108 
Copy (Reserve)”. The catalog record for the VHS indicates the location as 
“Sec108 Original (@Dodd)”, our archive.

Best,
Jo Ann

Jo Ann Reynolds
Reserve Services Coordinator
University of Connecticut
Homer Babbidge Library
369 Fairfield Road, Unit 1005RR
Storrs, CT  06269-1005
860-486-1406 voice
860-486-0584 fax



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