As some recent discussion has been brought toward the preservation
issues surrounding electronic media, I thought it might be worth
mentioning the formation of a new special interest group of the American
Institute for Conservation (AIC).  The first meeting of the new SIG will
take place at the annual meeting of the AIC scheduled for San Diego in
early June, 1997.  I’ve append the draft mission statement for this
group at the end of this message.  Anyone interested in knowing more
about this new group is encouraged to contact me.

Paul Messier
Conservator of Photographs & Works on Paper
Boston Art Conservation
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For AIC conference information contact the AIC at:
[log in to unmask]

Some useful websites that deal with electronic media preservation
issues:

National Media Lab:
http://www.nml.org/

The Commission for Preservation and Access
http://www-cpa.stanford.edu/cpa/index.html

Conservation Online (CoOl) has additional useful links:
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/index.html
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The new Electronic Media Special Interest Group’s mission statement
(draft) reads as follows:
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Since the mid 1940’s, the amount of cultural material dependent on
electronic media has rapidly increased, both in quantity and importance.
Awareness is also increasing that the preservation of this material will
present unique challenges to the preservation community.  The
conservation profession should be prepared to collaborate with allied
preservation professions to help meet these challenges.  As a response,
interested conservators are working within the framework of AIC to
establish an electronic media special interest group.  The purpose of
this group will be to promote a better understanding of the preservation
issues relating to electronic media, so that conservators can actively
contribute in the important work ahead.

Initially, the special interest group will pursue the following goals:
·examine the materials used to store electronic information,
such as magnetic tape.
·examine the various electronic media, such as video and
installation art.
·determine strategies for managing file format and machine
obsolescence.
·foster a discussion regarding the ethical issues raised by preservation
measures.
·develop documentation protocols for electronic media.