The State of Recorded Sound Preservation in the United States

This is the first comprehensive, national-level study of the state of sound recording preservation ever conducted in the U.S. The authors have produced a study outlining the web of interlocking issues that now threaten the long-term survival of the sound recording history. This study tells everyone that major areas of America's recorded sound heritage have already been destroyed or remain inaccessible to the public. It suggests that the lack of conformity between federal and state laws may adversely affect the long-term survival of pre-1972-era sound recordings in particular. And, it warns that the continued lack of national coordination among interested parties in the public and private sectors, in addressing the challenges in preservation, professional education and public access, may not yet be arresting permanent loss of irreplaceable sound recordings in all genres. Appended are: (1) National Recorded Sound Preservation Study: Announcement of Study and Public Hearing (November 2006); (2) Report of a Task Force Discussion to Define Prerequisites, Core Knowledge, and Graduate Educational Directions for Sound Preservation Professionals, and to Review an Annotated Bibliography of Audio Preservation Resources (The Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record, The University of Texas at Austin School of Information); (3) Obstacles to Access and Preservation of Recorded Sound (Nancy Davenport); and (4) "Folk Collections in Crisis" Report: Concluding Discussion and Recommendations. (Contains 251 footnotes.) [This report was commissioned for and sponsored by the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library Congress.].