RE: [AV Media Matters] Retention

[cchoksy@doculabs.com]

Jim:

I know the National Media Labs were doing some testing and putting things on
their web site. An independent library group--whose name now escapes
me--misquoted the head of the NML and mis-used, according to the NML, a
graph they had posted.  This went on the air on PBS and got into Business
Week, etc. last year.  An e-mail war between the head of NML and the head of
the library group ensued and I occasionally see people quoting the library
group's mis-interpretation.

Where can one generally go to get reliable information on media life?  I
think most people are becoming aware of out-dated formatting issues and are
somewhat aware of out-dated software and hardware issues, but the NML has
proclaimed 5 years the limit for computer tape, of any quality, when
properly handled.

Carol

Carol E.B. Choksy, Ph.D., CRM
Doculabs
1201 West Harrison, Chicago IL 60607
Tel: 312-433-7793
Fax: 312-433-7795
Email: cchoksy@doculabs.com
www.doculabs.com

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim Wheeler [mailto:Jimwheeler@aol.com]
>Sent: Monday, June 21, 1999 8:07 AM
>To: AV-Media-Matters@topica.com
>Subject: RE: [AV Media Matters] Retention
>
>
>
>Carol
>
>I have tapes made 56 years ago and they still play just fine.  On
>the other
>extreme, consider yourself lucky if you can play a VHS-EP tape on
>a second
>machine the same day it was recorded.
>
>The point is that "Tape Life" is a complex subject and we do not
>have all the
>answers.  We need a "Consumers Union" to test tapes and publish an annual
>report on the various tapes.
>
>The other problem is the availability of playback equipment 20 or
>50 years
>from now.  This is a problem with ALL High-Tech media.  I cannot
>play a 5"
>floppy I made just ten years ago.  With computer data, there is also the
>issue of the version of software used.
>
>Jim Wheeler