Spring 2005 - Tuesdays 6pm - 10pm, Rm 643
Collection Management
H72.3401
Instructors: Linda Tadic - lt@artstor.org,
(212) 229-6837 x106
GOALS:
Students will develop an increased understanding of the principles and practices
of collection management for moving images, sound, and digital assets. They
will gain hands-on experience with collection assessment, including evaluating
collections in such areas as collecting policies, care and handling, organization
and description, item condition, storage, and access. Students will also learn
strategies for collection "triage", conservation, and preservation
planning/management. They will also gain experience with the preparation of
assessment reports, preservation plans, and funding proposals.
EXPECTATIONS:
Each student will take an active role in
a group project where the class will assess the holdings of a collection in
the Fales Collection in the Bobst Library. Each student will be responsible
for the analysis and reporting on one aspect of the assessment, as well as
a specific portion of the collection. During this time, they will also prepare
a short paper on an aspect of appraisal and selection policies. Students will
then apply their learning by conducting an assessment with another film/video/audio/digital
repository, and they will write a report summarizing their findings and recommendations.
They will shape all or part of the reportŐs short-term recommendations into
a plan of immediate goals and objectives, and write a funding request that
reflects the plan.
Attendance at all classes is expected unless excused, as
our work together will be intensive. There will be two field trips Đ at the
Library of Congress, and at the Museum of Modern Art Cecile Bartos Film Center.
Grades will be based on a combination of class preparedness and participation
(20%); quality of work/presentation on group project (20%); short paper (10%);
individual assessments (30%); and funding request (20%).
TEXTS:
The following are texts for the course, along with the
articles listed below in the class descriptions. Additional readings will
be added during the semester, along with practical handouts.
REQUIRED:
-
Kula, Sam. Appraising Moving Images: Assessing
the Archival and Monetary Value of Film and Video Records. Lanham,
Maryland and Oxford: Scarecrow Press, 2003. Available at Shakespeare &
Co. Booksellers, 719 Broadway.
-
InterPARES1 report. www.interpares.org/book(NOTE: InterPARES2 will be available
January 2005)
OPTIONAL:
-
Davidson, Steven and Gregory Lukow, eds. The
Administration of Television Newsfilm and Videotape Collections: A Curatorial
Manual. Los Angeles and Miami: American Film Institute and Louis Wolfson
II Media History Center, 1997. Available at the NYU Bookstore.
Class 1: January 18 -- Introducing The Assessment Process
Topics/activities:
- Overview of class goals and expectations; review of syllabus.
- Review of key areas of collection assessment
- Establishing a process for assessment of a Fales collection
- Discuss options for individual collection assessments; select collections
- Assignment #1: After completing the readings for next week, write
a short paper (4-5 pages) comparing appraisal and retention policies. How
can an organizationŐs mission impact its policies? Due date: February 8.
Class 2: January 25 -- Collection Goals & Policies
Due this class:
- Read:
- Appraising Moving Images: Assessing the Archival and Monetary Value
of Film and Video Records, p. 1-58 (see above)
- Chapter 3 from The Administration of Television Newsfilm and Videotape
Collections: A Curatorial Manual (on reserve at Bobst)
- FIAT television appraisal guidelines (on reserve at Bobst)
- NARA Managing Audiovisual Records (on reserve at Bobst)
- InterPARES report, part 2: Appraisal Task Force Report
- Review sample collection assessments.
Topics/activities:
- Discussion of the relationship between organizational mission and collecting
policies; typical steps in the accession process.
- Interview with Ann Butler and review of a selected Fales collection.
- Outline work plan for assessment of Fales collection. (Assignment #2 will
be defined as part of this work plan. At a minimum, each student will be
responsible for an item count of part of the Fales collection, and for a
section of the assessment narrative.)
Class 3: February 1 -- Theories on Selection & Appraisal; Beginning
the Assessment
Due this class:
- Each student will have read the Bobst collection surveys and will have
written a draft statement of need and scope for the audio plan. (1-2 pages)
- Read:
- Optional:
Topics/activities:
- De-brief on the Fales collection and review work plan as needed.
- Discussion of readings on the history and theories of selection and appraisal,
and the content and ethics of collecting or selection polices.
- Discuss the purpose and process of performing a count by format and date
range of moving image and sound collections, and several methods of collection/presentation
of the data.
- Discuss intellectual property checklist
- License agreements
Class 4: February 8 -- Description And Tracking of Moving Images
Due this class:
- Assignment #1 due - short paper on appraisal policies.
- Familiarize yourself with the Bobst Library Media Template.
- Review the IMAP template for audio and video (www.imappreserve.org)
- Be prepared to discuss the catalogs, lists, etc. relating to your area
of the Fales collection.
Topics/activities:
- Brief overview of the principles of database structure
- Review of typical issues with description of different formats and genres,
and evolving standards for description.
- Review standards for technical, descriptive, preservation, and legal metadata
- Analysis of the catalogs and other lists, inventories, etc. provided by
the Fales collection in terms of strengths and weaknesses, and brainstorm
a list of recommendations relating to description.
- Create Excel database in class
Class 5: February 15 -- Description of Moving Images, con't; Principles
of Video/Audio Collection 'Triage'
Due this class:
- Look at sample records in the AMIA
Compendium of Cataloging Practice for Moving Image Materials http://www.amianet.org/publication/resources/cataloging/compendium/appendixE.html.
- Familiarize yourself with the glossary of cataloging terms: http://gondolin.rutgers.edu/MIC/text/how/catalog_glossary.htm
- Familiarize yourself with "Understanding MARC: Machine-Readable Cataloging"
http://www.loc.gov/marc/umb/
- Physical inventory for Fales collection assessment completed (# of items,
formats, ages, condition).
Topics/activities:
- A
review of the relationship between MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging), AACR2
(Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd Edition) and AMIM (Archival
Moving Image Materials: A Cataloging Manual).
- Decoding MARC records for relevant information, including "local"
fields.
- Discuss
and compare Dublin Core, the SMPTE Metadata Dictionary, MPEG7, and PBCore
- Practical
approaches to organization and identification of video, film, sound, and
digital materials.
Class 6: February 22 -- Evaluating Storage And Handling: Visit to MoMA Cecile
Bartos Center
We will visit the Museum of Modern Art Cecile Bartos Center in Pennsylvania.
This will be an all-day trip. Details will be announced closer to the date.
Due this class:
- Assignment #2: Final audio lab plan.
- Read:
Topics/activities:
- Visit to MoMA Bartos facility
- Using a checklist and targeted questions to document environmental conditions
(and monitoring), judge care and handling practices, and evaluate such areas
as security, fire suppression, air quality and disaster preparedness.
Class 7: March 1 -- Assessing And Documenting Film, Video, Audio, and Digital
Condition: Part 1
Due this class:
- Report on first visit to organization for Outside Assessment.
- Read:
- Chapters 9 & 11 from Restoration of Motion Picture Film,
edited by Paul Read and Mark-Paul Meyer for the Gamma Group. Oxford;
Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000. (on reserve in Bobst).
- "Storage and handling of Nitrate Film" and "Handling
and Maintenance of Processed Film" from The Book of Film Care
by the Eastman Kodak Company. Rochester: Eastman Kodak Company,
1983. (on reserve in Bobst).
- Familiarize yourself with "FilmTools: Footage Calculators and Charts":
http://www.gregpak.com/filmhelp/tools/footagechart.html
- "The Film Preservation Guide: Print Condition report": http://www.filmpreservation.org/preservation/film_guide.html
Topics/activities:
- 2 hours: FILM: >Brent Phillips from the Bobst Library will be the
guest speaker and will demonstrate using simple equipment.
- Brief review of the structure of film and overview of film deterioration.
- What makes for a good film inspection and why?
- Inspection procedures - hygiene, basic techniques.
- 2 hours: VIDEO: Mona Jimenez from the Bobst Library and MIAP program
will be the guest speaker and will demonstrate using equipment and identifying
video formats.
Class 8: March 8 -- Determining and Communicating Recommended Actions
March 7-11: The class will meet at the Library of Congress
Due this class:
- Final narrative sections for Fales Collection Assessment due.
- Report on progress/issues on Outside Assessment, as information-gathering
and analysis proceeds.
- Readings and handouts to be determined
Topics/activities:
- Based
on all of the information gathered from the assessment process, we will
create a final list of recommended actions for the Fales collection.
- Organizing
actions into short-term and long-term strategies.
March 15 -- NO CLASS: spring recess
Class 9: March 22 -- Assessing And Documenting Film, Video, Audio, and Digital Condition: Part 2
Meet 4:00-6:00 at NYPL Performing
Arts Library at Lincoln Center; 6:30-8:30 at ARTstor, 61st Street
and Lexington
Due this class:
- Report on progress/issues on Outside Assessment, as information-gathering
and analysis proceeds.
- "Cylinder, Disc, and Tape Care in a Nutshell." Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/record.html
- Familiarize yourself with "Audio Preservation." Ed. By Hannah
Frost for COOL. http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/audio/
- Familiarize yourself with "Electronic Storage Media." COOL. http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/electronic-records/electronic-storage-media
Topics/activities:
- Demonstration
of audio formats and preservation concerns
- Discussion
of digital file formats, and file management and preservation concerns
Class 10: March 29 -- Implementing Actions: Preservation Work Plans
Due this class:
- Report
on progress/issues on Outside Assessment, as information-gathering and analysis
proceeds.
- Draft
Outside Assessment due.
- Readings
and handouts to be determined
Topics/activities:
- Creating
a detailed work plan, with an attached timeline and budget, from a list
of recommended actions.
Class 11: April 5 -- Managing Conservation & Preservation Projects
Due this class:
- Final
Outside Assessment due.
- Readings
and handouts to be determined
Topics/activities:
- Present
Outside Assessments.
Class 12: April 12 -- Crafting Funding Requests
Due this class:
- Present outline of elements of Grant Request
- Readings
and handouts to be determined
Topics/activities:
- Strategies for the management of conservation/restoration activities,
including needed equipment, staff and workflow, and balancing in-house vs.
vendor work
- Discussion of key elements of a funding proposal; turning a preservation
work plan into a fundable project
- Crafting funding proposals to the type of funder: government agencies,
private foundations, donors
- Review sample grant proposals
- Discussion of assignment to write a funding request based on needs identified
in the Outside Assessment
Class 13: April 19 -- Refining Work Plans and Budgets
Due this class:
- Draft Grant Request due.
Topics/activities:
- Continue review of sample grant proposals
- Licensing footage and services to generate revenue stream
Class 14: April 26 -- LAST CLASS
Due this class:
- Final version of Grant Request due.
Topics/activities:
- Presentation of final assessments and key issues/challenges
- Presentation of Grant proposals
POTENTIAL OUTSIDE ASSESSMENTS
Wigstock Archives (video)
Contact: Scott Lifshutz (slifshutz@mac.com)
Ann Butler recommended
World Music Institute (audio and video?)
Contact: Judy Weiss (212-545-7679)
Mona recommended
Einstein on the Beach (NYPL Performing Arts Library)
Contact: Sarah Zeibell Mann (sarah_ziebellmann@nypl.org)
About the collection assessment: the largest title we have, EINSTEIN
ON THE BEACH, has around 155 items associated with it. It was produced
in 1976 and 1984, and we have film, video, and audio elements associated with
both versions. That would probably be the best one for a student to
assess.
NYPL Performing Arts Library: audio collection
Contact: Don McCormick (dmccormick@nypl.org
212-870-1661)
Dorothy Baskin Collection
Project for Natalia Fidelholtz
El Museum del Barrio (video)
Ask Mona for contact
Filmmakers' Co-op (film)
Contact: MM. Serra (film6000@aol.com 212-267-5665)
Rhizome.org (digital
media)
Contact: Rachel Greene, Executive Director (212-219-1288;
210 11th Ave, 2nd floor)
Asian Cinevision
Contact: Risa Morimoto (212-989-1422)
Global Action Project (video)
Contact: Christina Peng (Christina@global-action.org; 212-594-9577;
4 W. 37th St., 2nd floor)
The Kitchen (performance documentation,
video, audio, digital)
Contact: Christina Yang, Curator of Visual Art and
New Media (Christina@thekitchen.org)
WFUV 90.7 FM Archives (audio and digital)
www.wfuv.org