Apart from traditional archives, one interesting and burgeoning field in today’s information age is audiovisual archives. It
is a distinct discipline from the traditional paper archiving,
libraries, and museology. Generally, an archive is a collection of
historical records or a place in which they are kept. There are two
kinds of archives: First, the traditional paper archiving which is done
for the longest time even before the birth of audiovisual information.
The knowledge of paper history and ways on the retardation of paper
deterioration is important in the traditional paper archiving.
Audiovisual archiving, on the other hand, is the guardianship and
retrieval of archival records in audiovisual format. Unlike in paper
archiving, the creation and access of information in AV archiving
require technological devices such as compact discs, magnetic discs, CD
players, etc.
Modern
libraries include audiovisual records in their collection. Compared to
AV archives, libraries have a more updated AV collection. Once these AV
materials are updated, the older ones with long-term information value
are put in AV archives.
Museology
is the field in which objects or artifacts with historical value are
preserved and exhibited to the public. While museology deals with
tangible objects, AV archiving preserves the intangible information
contained in technological devices.
What are audiovisual media?
Audiovisual
media are recorded sounds and images intended for public reception by
means of television or screen projections and intended to make available
to public. They are created, reproduced and accessed through carriers
that require technological devices.
What is the concept of “context and content” in audiovisual archives?
Content
and context are two components of audiovisual media. The “context”
refers to the carrier on which the recorded sounds and images reside. Examples are the compact discs, films, slides, filmstrips and videograms. Audiovisual
media are not made in a vacuum; the “content” is the audiovisual
records contained in these carriers. Examples are videos, sounds and
photographs. Access to both and migration of the content
from one carrier to another for preservation or access purposes are
necessary but it may sometimes result to change of the original content.
Analog and digital records
Analog audio recordings are the ones recorded in compact cassettes,
cartridges, cylinders, and others and analog video recordings are the
ones contained in betamax, 2 inch quad and Philips format. While analog
records are now obsolete, digital records are the current format.
Examples of digital records are the ones recorded in compact discs,
digital video discs, and blue ray discs. To preserve the analog AV
records, migration to digital format is done.
Audiovisual heritage
Audiovisual heritage are recorded sounds, films, television, radio and other productions (primarily of the 20
th and 21
st
centuries) created and preserved because of their historical value. AV
heritage has transcended language and cultural boundaries of
information, as well as literacy and illiteracy in complement with
traditional printed records. Most audiovisual heritage had
been destroyed and damaged because of neglect, decay and lack of
knowledge and resources. Until on October 27, 2005, the UNESCO approved
the World Day for AV Heritage to raise public awareness of the
importance of audiovisual heritage and the need to preserve them.
Just like in traditional paper archiving, it is imperative to know the
history and nature of audiovisual materials. AV media undergo different
chemical and technical processes during manufacture. With this
knowledge, archivists would understand why and how AV materials
deteriorate, and therefore also know how to retard or fight against
their deterioration.
Reference:
Edmondson, R. (2004). Audiovisual Archiving: Philosophy and Principles. UNESCO.
