Unplanned Obsolescence in Archival Collections
October 18, 2023 / 10:00 to 3:00 • Peterborough Town Library, Peterborough, NH
October 18, 2023 / 10:00 to 3:00 • Peterborough Town Library, Peterborough, NH
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Join the New Hampshire Archives Group on Wednesday, October 18th at the Peterborough Town Library in Peterborough for its Fall 2023 workshop and annual meeting — or attend online via Zoom.
IntroductionWord processing files on 5¼-inch floppy disks? Reel-to-reel tapes? Betamax cartridges? VHS home movies? Oral histories on audio cassette? Dictation on micro-cassette? Newspapers on microfilm/fiche? Computer backups on diskette?
At this workshop we’ll look beyond basic photo digitization and delve into the problem of inaccessible archival records stored in rare, endangered, or extinct formats. Bring your conundrums! ProgramWe are pleased to offer the following presentations and discussion topics for this workshop (times are approximate; click on title for synopsis & presenter):
10:00 - Annual meeting
The workshop will be preceded by a brief NHAG Annual Meeting at which we will vote on the new slate of officers and at-large board members. 10:20 - The obsolescence Problem
Rodney Obien will open the workshop with an introduction to the problems posed by certain material types commonly found in archival collections. Then we'll move on to finding potential solutions. Rodney Obien is an associate professor and head of Archives & Special Collections at Keene State College. 10:45 - Old news: nh newspapers
In 2022, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded Dartmouth Library a grant to digitize historic New Hampshire newspapers and make them freely available to the public on the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America platform. Led by Dartmouth Library in partnership with the New Hampshire State Library, the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the University of New Hampshire Library, the New Hampshire Digital Newspaper Project identifies noteworthy titles, selects acceptable microfilm, and produces preservation-quality scans with accompanying metadata. In this session, NHDNP Project Manager Toben Traver will give an overview of the work so far, reflecting on the joys and challenges of working with these increasingly obsolete media (both the physical newspapers, and the microfilm they are preserved upon.) Toben Traver, MA, MSLIS, has worked at Dartmouth Library in various capacities since early 2020, including service on the Rauner Special Collections Library SpeakOut project, an oral history of LGBTQIA+ experiences at Dartmouth, and most recently as the project manager for the New Hampshire Digital Newspaper Project. He earned a dual degree in library science and history from Simmons University, where his research documented women’s experiences of coeducation at Dartmouth in the early 1970s. 11:30 - post-physical media
This talk will focus on the "post physical media" world we now live in, and how the digital revolution has made it easier to preserve and share media content; it will also discuss some of the drawbacks of this trend and how they can be avoided. It may start off with a very quick history of media formats in general, mostly to discuss the longevity of older physical media such as photos, film, magnetic tape, etc. There will be plenty of time for questions and informal Q&A. Marc Vadeboncoeur is the owner of Goodheart Media Services, a Raymond, NH based company that specializes in digitizing and preserving analog media formats. Prior to its founding in 2002, Marc worked as the Operations Manager for the Manchester, NH community access TV station. He also worked freelance video production for various sporting events and was involved with several independent film projects based in New Hampshire. He is the co-author (along with local filmmaker Bill Millios of Back Lot Films of Fremont) of "The Digital Film Workshops: Producing, Marketing and Screening Your Independent Film" 1:30 - cases & diy solutions
Ashley Miller, New Hampshire State Archivist, will moderate a panel presentation with case studies and solutions for various other media types. Presenters include Katie Czajkowski (newspaper microfilm), Caitlin Dionne (metadata & contract digitization), Brantley Palmer (DIY reel-to-reel audio), Jim Perkins (DIY cassette audio), and Katy Sternberger (archives policy). Ashley Miller was appointed New Hampshire State Archivist in February 2023. She holds graduate degrees from Simmons and previously worked as archivist at Concord Public Library. Post-workshop tour: Starting at 3 PM, the Monadnock Center for History and Culture is available for small group tours of its archival collection (10 person limit). Please indicate interest on your registration form. |
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