Re: [AMIA-L] Public Libraries with 16mm collections

["Pierce, Greg" <PierceG@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello, All.

Following up on E. Summer's eMail - Does anyone know if a public library or public school library has anything to fear legally if they give away an unwanted collection of films (or books or LPs) to a legitimate (non profit) archive or institution or collector? I've run into too many conflicting instances where one organization will let the teachers have first pick of the film collection, then they will have a sale and then, instead of letting me take what's left off their hands, will throw them in the dumpster because they are scared of issues with copyright. Or another organization (within in the same public school system) will allow a local non profit media arts center to come over and haul away 15,000 films without a care in the world. Or the public library will have a sale in order to get rid of unwanted books, records and sheet music and then just give away the remaining items that didn't sale. They don't always dumpster everything but then again I've known so much to go there instead of into a free pile at the library, a used bookstore or a thrift store for that matter.

Are we talking about taxpayer money issues, copyright issues, deaccession issues, personal whims of the employees at these organizations, something else...

I'm not sure who asked this before (I think someone asked this during this thread.) but is their anything you can say or show to a library or school that is getting rid of their film collection that would put their mind at ease so that they would be glad to offer the films to you in order to save them from being destroyed?

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: Association of Moving Image Archivists
[mailto:AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of E. Summer
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 2:22 PM
To: AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [AMIA-L] Public Libraries with 16mm collections


Having personally made open requests to receive films that are in 
imminent danger, I have received on some occasions the answer that 
the library is forbidden to do anything with the prints other than 
destroy them.

How do we get around that requirement which often dates back 30 years 
of more to a time when the prints were easily replaced with a fresh one?

I think setting up monitoring cameras on dumpsters is the best solution. :-)

E.S.


At 12:38 PM 2/21/06, you wrote:
>Philip Hood:
>
> From the 1940's and even earlier, almost every public library in the U. S.
>had a collection of 16mm films (some small communities excepted, though
>they often had access through county library systems).  There was a
>national system for disseminating info and government monies to support
>some of the activities.  Major urban library systems such as Cleveland,
>Chicago, Baltimore and NYC had extensive collections.  In many states the
>public libraries were also serviced by state libraries and the public
>university systems.  There were also national distributors.  U. of Indiana
>distributed films from Public TV, for example.
>
>There is plenty of literature on the AV field.  You should start in your
>local library.  If your lucky there will be a veteran AV librarian (now a
>media librarian) who can give you some guidance.
>
>Libraries are now divesting themselves of their 16mm collections because
>the demand has dropped to nil.  They take up space and, in many cases, the
>staff experienced in handling them is vanishing.  It's a matter of
>legitimate concern for AMIA members.  Without question some valuable films
>will go to dumpsters.  But, it should be remembered that there was a great
>deal of duplication in these collections and certain titles would exist in
>almost all of them --- and often in well worn prints because they were so
>popular.
>
>This is a matter that AMIA should take up with the American Library
>Association.  I'm sure that ALA members would be glad to listen to advice
>on how to dispose of surplus collections.  An article or two in library
>journals would also be helpful.  Visits to local and state libraries by
>AMIA members would also be useful.
>
>Best
>
>Paul Spehr (Library of Congress, retired)
>17 Valley View Trail
>Fairfield, PA 17320
>         717  642-0049
>         spehr@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Philip Hood <hood@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: 2/20/2006 10:26:27 PM
> > Subject: Re: [AMIA-L] Public Libraries with 16mm collections
> >
> > Hello Alain and Grace,
> >
> >       Public 16 (http://www.public16.org) has a
> >       great interest in providing a compendium of
> >       access inside the United States of public
> >       library institutions that have 16mm holdings.
> >
> >       If there is anyone that this email reaches
> >       who knows of some library anywhere inside
> >       the US that has 16mm holdings, that are
> >       or have been at some point publicly accessible,
> >       we'd like to know about it.  If you think that
> >       the holding is so small that we ought to know
> >       about it, or its too insignificant, please
> >       inform us of it, anyway.  We will not
> >       mind having another email on this matter and
> >       no matter how small, it can be of some help.
> >       Please, please, do not hesitate to contact us.
> >       If anyone is interested otherwise in working on
> >       a method to continue public and common
> >       citizen access to these basic materials,
> >       please, also, do not hesitate to contact
> >       us, as we would be interested in working
> >       with you.
> >
> >       Alain, you have mentioned herein 2 libraries of
> >       some sort that are destroying filmic resources.
> >       Can you please be more specific about the
> >       nature of these collections ?
> >       Do not hesitate as time may be running out.
> >
> >       Thank you.
> >
> > -ml
> > pth
> >
> > See: http://www.public16.org
> > [NY; Boston, MA; WDC; Hyattsville, MD; Pennsyvania]
> >
> > On Sat, 18 Feb 2006, Grace McKay wrote:
> >
> > > Can you give us directions to the dumpsters?
> > >
> > > Grace McKay
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Association of Moving Image Archivists
>[mailto:AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > > Behalf Of 40 Frames
> > > Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:50 AM
> > > To: AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [AMIA-L] Public Libraries with 16mm collections
> > >
> > > What are the logistics involved in obtaining prints from Public
>Libraries
> > > who are dumping their
> > > collection of 16mm titles? I currently know of two libraries in the
> > > process of removing all 16mm titles from their collection, yet they are
> > > contractually/legally bound to throw these in the garbage.
> > >
> > > How can this be prevented? Can the library place a collection or titles
> > > from that collection on "permanent loan" to an organization? Do the
> > > legalities have to do with determining the rights holders and clearing
> > > those rights?
> > >
> > > Appreciate any assistance in this matter. Email offlist if necessary.
> > >
> > > Alain LeTourneau
> > >
> > > ================
> > > 40 FRAMES
> > > Alain LeTourneau

Edward Summer
Planetarium Station
POB 502
NY, NY 10024-0502