Using the Field Audio Collection Evaluation Tool (FACET) to Aid Selection for Preservation

  • Mike Casey, Indiana University Archives of Traditional Music, United States
  • Media degradation, technological obsolescence, limited resources, and the costs of preservation work all force audiovisual archives to carefully evaluate their collections, establish priorities, and share expertise and tools. One freely available preservation tool that can aid low resource archives who face difficult choices is FACET—the Field Audio Collection Evaluation Tool. FACET is a point-based, open-source software tool for ranking field collections for the level of deterioration they exhibit and the amount of risk they carry. It assesses the characteristics of, preservation problems with, and modes of deterioration of the following formats: open reel tape (polyester, acetate, paper and PVC bases), analog audio cassettes, DAT (Digital Audio Tape), wire recordings, lacquer discs, and aluminum discs. This tool helps collection managers construct a prioritized list of audio collections by the level of risk they represent, enabling informed selection for preservation. The FACET package includes a 90 page/35 photo formats document that helps collection managers identify and evaluate preservation problems. Combining FACET with a process that assesses research value provides strong justification for preservation dollars. FACET was developed by Mike Casey at the Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University, as part of the Sound Directions project. In this session, we will examine both the workings of the software and the process of assessing preservation condition and evaluating risk.