This site provides images and brief descriptions of countless media formats from the cylinder through computers.

A full text library and bibliography of conservation information covering a wide spectrum of topics including audio preservation, video preservation, electronic media, digital archives, and copyright and intellectual property.

Recording principles, storage and handling issues, maintenance of equipment, format and equipment obsolescence, for each type of carrier. Includes a list of recommended readings.

Online resource providing basic information on a variety of topics related to moving image archiving including cost and storage analysis, conservation, and terminology.

Small survey of professionals who archive, preserve and provide access to audiovisual materials and manage collections and outsource reformatting work, defines words or argue semantics.

General introduction to the concept of audiovisual preservation.

The reader aims to provide access to existing published information for archivists working at a professional level in developed and developing countries, promote the education and professional training of audiovisual archivists in all countries and serve as a reference tool in daily work.

A revision of the Philosophy of Audiovisual Archiving published by UNESCO in 1998. This revised and renamed document reflects the changes that have occurred in the audiovisual archiving field, in the intervening period, ranging from the challenges of digitization and technological changes.

Using the results of a large-scale survey involving hundreds of collections, this report presents dangers specific to each format and each formats current presence in collections.

Report from a roundtable discussion of best practices for transferring analog discs and tapes. This publication reviews current best practices from analog audio preservation, while also making important suggestions about digital preservation.

A step by step approach for the production of digital copies from analogue tapes from a technical point of view. It contains references to other literature.

FACET is an open source software system that is designed to analyze the preservation needs of audio materials based on a ranking system applied after inspection.

Published by the audio world standards defining organization, this document proposes recommended practices for sound and AV archives in the 2005 technical environment. The suggestions aim to help the reader focus on various issues relating to responsible audio archiving practice while also defining a consistent terminology for the field. The document is useful for those with financial responsibility for a collection as well as technically trained staff.

The text analyzes the complex issue of transferring audio from analog to digital formats. After describing the different audio formats, it offers good practice guidelines for digitization.

Results of research and development carried out by the Sound Directions project in the U.S. Each chapter in this document is divided into two major parts: a preservation overview that summarizes key concepts for collection managers and curators, followed by a section intended for audio engineers, digital librarians, and other technical staff.

In continual expansion, the guide is intended as a reference tool for dealing with sound recording heritage.

This project has built a metadata schema, derived from Dublin Core, for use with public television and radio materials.

The FIAF Cataloguing Rules For Film Archives, part 1 (pdf), part 2 (pdf), part 3 (pdf), Harriet W. Harrison, FIAF Cataloguing Commission, 1991
Rules adopted by the FIAF for cataloguing materials held in moving image archives. Appendix with examples, glossary, ISO date standard, conversion charts, abbreviations, FIAF archive codes, bibliography.

English glossary of filmografic terms.

An online publication devoted to metadata, its types and uses, and how it can improve access to digital resources.

Library of Congress approved genre definitions to be used in the cataloguing of moving image materials.

CALIPR is a web-based tool designed to aid non-specialists in assessing the preservation needs of their collection.

The survey instrument consists of a Microsoft Access relational database designed for use by librarians and archivists who are not experts in recording media.

This survey instrument consists of a Microsoft Access database and is designed to help those who are not experts in audiovisual preservation determine an items level of preservation need. The tool supports videocassette, U-MATIC, ¼ inch open reel audio, and audiocassette.

Based on a survey of numerous European organizations, this document examines the situation of audiovisual research collections and their specific issues. It discusses the particular requirements for access and re-use, focusing on the potential of digitization for creating distributed content-based archives.

Results of a study on audiovisual collections based on data collected from hundreds of organizations from all over Europe. This is the first extensive report on preservation and access of sound and moving image materials outside the broadcasting sector and large audiovisual archives.

Page discussing issues revolving around intellectual property and new information technology with links to bibliography resources on the topic.

A joint publication between NDIIPP, the Joint Information Systems Committee, Open Access to Knowledge Law Project, and the SURFfoundation, the report examines the effects of copyright law on digital preservation in several countries.

This study investigates the way that digital sound and moving pictures files are being preserved as well as identifying archiving methodologies and future research possibilities. This study includes both "born digital" and digitized material.

Investigation about the strategies for preserving digital image files, archiving methodologies and future research possibilities, including both "born digital" and digitized material.

The final report for a large-scale analog to digital video preservation project, this document asserts that JPEG-2000 should be the file standard for digital preservation of moving images with detailed explanation.

A step by step approach for the production of digital copies from analogue tapes from a technical point of view. It contains references to other literature.

This paper places a conceptual framework upon digital library development, and discusses how we might move from isolated digital collections to interoperable digital libraries. It first examines how early efforts to construct digital collections were conceived as experiments rather than operational libraries. It then discusses various conventional library components that are necessary to deployment of operational digital libraries. Finally, the author points to functions (such as infrastructure, robust metadata, and preservation components) that can be deployed to move us from isolated digital collections to interoperable digital libraries.

InterPARES aims at developing the knowledge essential to the long-term preservation of authentic records created and/or maintained in digital form and providing a basis for standards, policies, strategies and plans of action for ensuring the longevity of such material and the ability of its users to trust its authenticity.

An online publication that introduces the technology of digital imaging and creating an image library.

Guide to Good Practice showing the importance for the community of moving beyond the narrow vision of these early project-based enthusiasts and thinking through what is needed to establish sustainable programs.

An extensive and detailed resource that evaluates various digital formats and outlines the sustainability factors that affect each. The site also includes various papers and presentations related to format sustainability.

A website for archive owners and the public alike, which provides information on digital storage of audiovisual materials. The site provides information and management tools on digital technology for the storage of film, video and audio content and associated metadata. The information covers the state-of-the-art in storage technology, and includes forecasts of trends over the next twenty years. The PrestoSpace website also includes a helpful list of publications dealing with digital restoration, metadata and access.

It presents an analysis of costs for digitizing and long-term storage.

List of bibliographies about the different fields of the preservation of access to digital information. It provides as well some useful glossaries.

Ethical and philosophical principles of the work of an archivist.

Specific statements of five general principles: The Rights of Collections, The Rights of Future Generations, Exploitation Rights, Rights of Colleagues, Personal Behaviour.

Simple guidelines for preserving motion picture film materials outside of specialized archives, with a focus on home storage.

In this column, AMIA's Inedits Interest Group answers frequently asked questions and addresses issues involved in archiving and preserving unpublished, amateur and small format film.

Good practice for the addressing water damage and film and video recovery.

This short piece addresses the most important considerations in film storage and outlines the proper process for film inspection.

Study mandated by the National Film Preservation Act of 1992, describing the state of preservation in the U.S. film industry and in public and nonprofit archives.

Guidelines to all topics related to film preservation: composition, conservation, cataloguing and access.

Handbook for all aspects of film preservation, including composition, damage, storage, identification, repair, and disaster planning.

This site provides helpful footage to runtimes calculators for use in film inspections.

Site outlines the development of film overtime and contains information about each format.

This page offers a quick pictorial reference to the different types of film stocks that may appear in an archival collection.

The product of a collaboration between SEAPAVAA's Technical Committee, Screensound Australia/National Screen and Sound Archive and Kodak, this is a useful tool provides basic information about the physical properties of film and conservation treatments.

This site provides images and brief descriptions of countless media formats from the cylinder through computers.

Site outlines the development of film overtime and contains information about each format.

This page offers a quick pictorial reference to the different types of film stocks that may appear in an archival collection.

A complete guide from the identification of historical formats and equipment to the best practice for migration.

Aimed at museum staff, this guide deals with the preservation of videotapes in organizations that do not specialize in audiovisual collections or preservation.

This website provides useful information about video formats and standards.

In continual expansion, the guide is intended as a reference tool for dealing with sound recording heritage.

This guide outlines each video format and is intended as a reference tool for dealing with videotape collections.

Guidelines about all issues related to sound, still and moving images, and multimedia documents, such as collection development, cataloguing, conservation and access.

Online resources and bibliography in the field of audiovisual conservation and digital preservation.

The website offers online resources for the preservation of audiovisual material including a glossary, a film preservation handbook, first aid for damaged material, and technical services.

List of bibliographies about the different fields of the preservation of access to digital information. It provides as well some useful glossaries.

Provides Best practice for the preservation of new media art, divided in three topics: single channel video, computer-based arts and installations.

A collaborative project created in 2003 between The New Art Trust, MoMA, SFMOMA and Tate, this site includes valuable resources with those charged to care for time-based art works.

The Network proposes an unconventional new preservation strategy for the preservation of media works, as well as tools, case studies and terminologies. The project emerged from the Guggenheim Museum’s efforts and was supported by the Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science, and Technology.

A three-year research project (2004-2007), which gave guidelines, tools and several case studies for the conservation of installation art. It was coordinated by  Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (ICN, Amsterdam), and co-organized by Tate, London; Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf; Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, (SMAK, Ghent); Foundation for the Conservation of Contemporary Art (SBMK, The Netherlands); Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid.

The purpose of this document, prepared by the Memory of the World Programme's Sub-Committee on Technology, is to provide detailed guidance on managing the risks associated with storing archival data on recordable CD and DVD. It recommends a strategy to reduce these risks through error measurement and appropriate management.

Good practice for storage.

Role of storage, conditions of temperature, relative humidity and air quality, in the physical survival of photographs, films, audio and video tapes, CDs, and DVDs.

Short and basic primer on videotape, covering such issues as composition, storage and handling, restoration, and playback devices.

In this column the authors answer frequently asked questions about video formats and preservation basics.

Basics on history and composition of videotape, definition of terms, guidelines for handling, managing and preserving.

This handbook is intended to answer the questions of archivists, librarians, and others who have a collection of videotapes they hope to preserve. The guidelines offered introduce the seminal topics, however the resource does not offer great detail on any topic.

Comprehensive guide to magnetic tape storage. Also includes an appendix for magnetic tape care, a glossary, and a list of further reading.

The final report for a large-scale analog to digital video preservation project, this document asserts that JPEG-2000 should be the file standard for digital preservation of moving images with detailed explanation.

An extensive glossary of common video and preservation language.

This project focuses on advocating the long-term preservation of video, in particular video, and includes a number of valuable resources.

Published in 2006, this document outlines the physical problems with magnetic tape and provides standards for long-term care. Note: user must pay a fee to access this document.

This report is a large-scale examination of the state of television and video preservation in 1997 and offers suggestions for improving the situation.

A complete guide from the identification of historical formats and equipment to the best practice for migration.

Aimed at museum staff, this guide deals with the preservation of videotapes in organizations that do not specialize in audiovisual collections or preservation.

This website provides useful information about video formats and standards.

This guide outlines each video format and is intended as a reference tool for dealing with videotape collections.