Re: [ARSCLIST] Setting a value on tape collections

[andy kolovos <akolovos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alec,

For the sake of customs I'd say you're best just valuing the physical 
media at their replacement cost, or at a depreciated cost based on their 
age.

If for some reason-say insurance--you need to value the content, the 
standard approach we've been using in the field of folklore (as 
transmitted to me via Michael Taft, who I believe learned it from Sandy 
Ives) is to estimate how much it would cost to have a comparable 
researcher do the same sort of fieldwork today.  While this doesn't 
place a value on the actual audio content, it does allow you to estimate 
the value of the time that went into creating the recordings in today's 
dollars, which is pretty much the best one can do.

Andy

Alec McLane wrote:
> I'm looking for advice on declaring a value for a collection of 
> recordings that is being shipped from overseas. The tape reels are 
> Scotch 208, 1/4 X 1200, 1.5 mil., probably less than 30 years old, and 
> they contain unique field recordings of music. There are about 40 reels 
> in all. Does anyone have any experience in estimating a value, just for 
> the purpose of satisfying U.S. customs? Is it just the value of the 
> tapes themselves? I can't imagine putting a replacement value on the 
> music, obviously.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> Alec McLane
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Alec McLane
> Scores & Recordings/
>  World Music Archives       Phone: (860) 685-3899
> Olin Library                       Fax: (860) 685-2661
> Wesleyan University          mailto:amclane@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Middletown, CT  06459       http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/srhome/srdir.htm

--

Andy Kolovos
Archivist/Folklorist
Vermont Folklife Center
3 Court Street ; P.O. Box 442
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-4964
akolovos @ vermontfolklifecenter.org
http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org