What is Audiovisual Archives?

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.