Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:58:03 -0400 From: "Casey, Michael T" <micasey@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [ARSCLIST] FACET release
Dear ARSCLIST members,
The Sound Directions project team is pleased to announce the release of FACET--the Field Audio Collection Evaluation Tool--to aid selection for preservation. Below you will find the official "press release" with details on how to download the software and accompanying documents. We hope that you find the FACET package useful in your work.
Mike Casey
---------- Mike Casey Associate Director for Recording Services Archives of Traditional Music Indiana University
(812)855-8090
Co-Chair, ARSC Technical Committee
FACET: Audio preservation selection software
The Sound Directions project at Indiana University and Harvard University announces the release of FACET (Field Audio Collection Evaluation Tool) which is designed to aid selection for preservation. FACET is available from the Sound Directions website at http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/sounddirections/facet/index.shtml
FACET is a point-based, open source software tool that ranks audio field collections based on preservation condition, including the level of deterioration they exhibit and the degree of risk they carry. It assesses the characteristics, preservation problems, and modes of deterioration associated with the following formats: open reel tape (polyester, acetate, paper and PVC bases), analog audio cassettes, DAT (Digital Audio Tape), lacquer discs, aluminum discs, and wire recordings. This tool helps collection managers construct a prioritized list of collections by condition and risk, enabling informed selection for preservation.
The FACET package consists of the following:
§ FACET software
§ FACET Procedures Manual. This is a guide to using the FACET software and an exploration of the preservation selection process
§ FACET formats document entitled Format Characteristics and Preservation Problems with 92 pages and 47 photographs detailing characteristics of, and preservation problems with, the various audio formats treated by FACET
§ Sample FACET worksheets. Paper worksheets for gathering data before using the software
For further information on the Sound Directions project: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/sounddirections/index.shtml
Dear ARSC List Members:
I am a research assistant working on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Audiovisual Self Assessment Program (AVSAP) project. Broadly, the basis of the project is to design a graphically-based computer tool that mid-to-small sized cultural institutions can use as a guide to assessing audiovisual collections. More information regarding the project can be found on our website: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/prescons/AVSAP.htm
We are currently in the beginning stages of design and gathering content. Currently, we have a strong textual foundation and are now moving on to the stage of collecting visual elements for our tool.
This is where my call for assistance from the listserv community comes in. I would like to know if anyone has any images or photos (high resolution and high quality preferred) of:
-general formats (e.g. wire, cylinder, disc, open-reel magnetic media, etc.) -decay in formats (e.g. tape which has succumbed to sticky shed, discs coated with palmitic acid, known problematic tapes, etc. )
If you have images you'd be willing to share for this project please contact me off list at: tpopp2@xxxxxxxx
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me as well. Thank you for your assistance!
Best, Tracy Popp Graduate Assistant AVSAP University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign