Applying Section 108 to Preserve VHS Collections

Background

With the introduction of the VHS format, libraries built collections of VHS tapes to support teaching methods adapted to the easy availability and affordability of video. Following introduction of the DVD format, those VHS collections sit largely unused and mostly ignored. Much of their content has not been rereleased on DVD or streaming and is at risk of being lost as VHS player availability declines into obscurity.

Average Size of VHS Collections in US Academic Libraries by Institution Type

AB) Associate Degree Baccalaureate

Masters

Doctoral

8128 ARL Libraries Citation:

farrelly, d. & Hutchison, J (2013) Survey of academic

Aggregated library streaming video [Data file]. Provided by authors.

Section 108

U.S. Copyright law permits the duplication of library items that are:

* Lost Deteriorating

= Damaged « In an obsolete format

* Stolen treet References:

Besser, H., Brown, M.A., Clarida, R., Forsberg, W., Righter. M., & Stoller, M. (2012), Video at risk: Strategies for preserving commercial video collections in libraries. Section 108 Guidelines. Retrieved from http:/Awww. nyu.edu/tisch/preservation/research/video-risk/

Casey, M. (2015). Why media preservation can't wait: The gathering storm. IASA Journal, 44, 14-22. Retrieved from http://www.avpreserve.com/wp- content/uploads/2015/04/casey_iasa_journal_.. (pdf)

deg farrelly, \Viedia Librarian, asu

The Project

Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright law permits reformatting and preservation for local use by the holding institution of out-of-release videotapes. The law requires, however, due diligence searching into the distribution status of each ttle. This effort is immensely time-consuming; many libraries will not have the resources to undertake such projects and thus may inadvertently allow their VHS collections to molder away. The media librarians at Arizona State University, American University, and William Paterson University are collaborating on this issue.

Their database logs searches conducted for titles in their respective libraries. The goal of the collaborators is to provide a resource that other librarians can refer to when planning their own VHS preservation projects.

Section108Video.com Database Going Forward

The Section108Video database

is open now for anyone to search. In July 2016 the database will be opened for other institutions to log their own due diligence data.

Information gathered by the primary investigators and later contributors to the database may serve as the foundation for a wide- scale coordinated digitization effort.

Provided a reasonable search (due diligence) cannot locate " an unused copy * at a reasonable price

Collaborators: = Chris Lewis iY | AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Jane Hutchison Surdi WILUAM

UNIVERSITY

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.

Marcum, D. (2016). Due diligence and stewardship in a time of change and uncertainty. Ithaka S+R Issue Brief. Retrieved from http://www.sr.ithaka.org/wp-content/ uploads/2016/04/SR_Issue_Brief_Due-Diligence_ Stewardship042616.pdf

U.S. Copyright Office (2014, July 23). Copyright law of the United States of America and related laws contained in Title 17 of the United States Code. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/ title17/92chap1.htmi#108

ESuU Libraries

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY