In a message dated 01-04-13 20:33:18 EDT, Terri Fiyalko wrote:

<< Katrina, all tape... whether video or audio... has a limited life span.
It is the same problem our film industry faces when restoring classics from
the early years.  Even sitting on a shelf, tape deteriorates and the stored
work will be lost. >>

I think several different preservation problems are being conflated here.
The problems of the film industry were due to deteriorating nitrate film
base, deteriorating acetate film base, and fading color dyes, in addition to
such physical damage as wear and tear through usage, broken splices, etc.
Magnetic media such as audiotape and videotape deteriorate through normal
usage and poor storage conditions even when the tape remains in good
condition, and both analog and digital records can suffer the same fate.  In
addition, digital media are only as permanent as the availability of
equipment for access and playback.

Since audiotape and videotape deteriorate with use, making user copies for
playback while preserving the "original" is standard procedure in archives.
"Fair use" provisions often permit the production of user copies in such
repositiories, but it may be necessary to purchase extra copies of commercial
copyrighted tapes or to seek specific permission to make copies.

David Haberstich

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