This has been an interesting thread, but as I talk to archivists, 
conservators, and librarians I find that, in general, the technology 
that is being imposed on all of us is a challenge overall.

My specialty is audio tape, specifically analog audio tape, and I 
transfer it to digital files. The media archive today contains a 
plethora of analog and digital formats for audio and video -- in 
addition to film both still and moving image, and many of these 
formats are rapidly becoming obsolete, and the carriers are aging, 
not to mention the machines!

It is quite a challenge--and the new world order of everything as 
files also challenges the traditional view of archivists and librarians.

My approach is that we all have different skill sets and look at the 
same problems in different ways and we all need each other. There are 
some huge challenges out there and the team approach to solving them 
usually results in a better solution than the insular approach.

To counter the common joke, a camel is a fine "horse" if you're 
travelling in the desert <smile>. It is purpose-built for desert 
travel...and I think we'd all be cranky if we travelled for long 
periods in the desert!

Cheers,

Richard


Richard L. Hess                   email: [log in to unmask]
Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes. 

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