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see end... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob Bamberger" <[log in to unmask]> > The National Recording Preservation Act, among many other provisions, > calls for preparation of a study on the "state of sound recording > archiving, preservation and restoration activities." That study is to > be followed up by a national plan to address issues and needs raised in > the study. > > I've been detailed from the Congressional Research Service here at > the Library of Congress to prepare the study and subsequent plan. (A > number of supporting reports have been completed and available on the > Council on Library and Information Resources website: > http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/reports.html. Other reports are > in-progress.) > > Some of the issues to be addressed in the study include: > > I. Archives: [1] the size and nature of their holdings, with > respect to both published and unpublished recordings; [2] the nature and > extent of preservation capacities and activities, any criteria by which > priorities are set for preservation, and financial support for > preservation activity; [3] the format and specifications that have been > adopted for preservation activities; [4] reader/researcher access to > preserved material; and [5] copyright/intellectual property issues that > may limit or interfere with access. > > II. Sound engineers and technicians: [1] perceived needs for > standards or "best practices" to facilitate sharing of preserved > material, how such standards/practices should be determined, and how > often they should be subject to review and by whom; and [2] the > challenges and practicality, in the face of limited resources, of > automating preservation activity. > > The study will be one of the items on the agenda at the Friday evening > Archives Update Session (8:00-9:30 P.M.) at the ARSC conference. > However, I'd welcome your thoughts at anytime (well, almost anytime) > over the course of the conference. There have been a number of relevant > and useful threads on the list, and there are certain to be more. It's > all grist for the mill. > > Additionally, the Library plans to create a formal opportunity or two > for specialists and members of the general public to weigh in on matters > included in the study. > > Looking forward to seeing some of you again when in Seattle, and > meeting others! > Keep in mind that this is the same government who placed sound recordings under a blanket copyright that extends (at this point... it could be changed!) to 2067! Should someone discover Edison's original "tinfoil" recording of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," it would be another 61 years before it could be made available to the public...130 years after the recording was made! One thinks that RIAA may be getting a bit carried away...?! I suspect that this interest in the preservation of original recordings may be based on the possibilty that money could be made from their reissue... Steven C. Barr