‘Waking the dead’: Preserving obsolete audiovisual formats in New Zealand heritage libraries and archives

Abstract

Physical preservation of obsolete audiovisual (AV) formats is complex. Many aspects must be considered around storage, care, and access of these items before any preservation methods can begin. There has been much written about AV preservation from an international viewpoint, but little looking from a local New Zealand perspective. This study approaches issues surrounding preservation of AV formats from a New Zealand heritage viewpoint, with preservationists from three heritage libraries and archives interviewed to determine issues, processes, and solutions with these formats. A qualitative, case-study methodology using semi-structured interviews was used to frame this research, and compare the different approaches of the three institutions. Five AV preservationists from the three institutions participated in this research, with each participant providing valuable insight into the different processes around AV preservation. Results suggest that institutions are approaching issues about preservation with care, and concern, as many formats are already obsolete, with playback equipment rapidly becoming irreplaceable, or unobtainable. The importance of keeping these formats is a key component of AV preservation too, as without them, information is lost, and may never be recovered. Results impact on libraries and archives with obsolete AV materials by providing advice, or answers about preserving these formats when there are complex issues surrounding them.