Preserving the AIATSIS Collections

The aim of preservation is to maintain and preserve collections in accordance with their significance and their use. Our Library and Audiovisual Archive, preserve their collections with the intention of ensuring permanent accessibility.

Preservation is a ceaseless task, which relies on good storage, constant migration of format and diligent collection management.

This is particularly important for film and sound collections where technological obsolescence has always presented a threat to the preservation of audiovisual media. Today we are witnessing the obsolescence of many popular analogue audiovisual technologies, notably VHS video, audio cassette, audio reel-to-reel tape, and traditional still photography.

Checking film

Telecine technician checks film

Photo: AIATSIS

In keeping with internationally accepted best practice, AIATSIS requests that collectors lodge their original audiovisual materials for inclusion in the collection. This is in recognition that future technologies may enable enhanced retrieval of information from the original carrier, particularly in the case of analogue materials. We also recognise that original carriers, both analogue and digital, are valuable artefacts in their own right and may convey more information than their derivative copies, which only embody the audiovisual content of the original.

Preservation responsibilities include:

AIATSIS AVA Audio follows IASA Guidelines external site

AIATSIS operates in accordance with the Australian Institute of Cultural Materials (AICCM) Code of Ethics and Code of Practice external site.