ATALM Survey Take aways

Saving Recorded History: A Needs Assessment Survey of Native Audiovisual Collections

In the Spring of 2020, ATALM surveyed its membership to determine the needs of tribally held audiovisual collections. Of the 42 respondents:
    • Majority were from Museums (21%), Cultural Centers (19%), and Libraries (15%).
    • Also significant response from Non-tribal organizations holding Native AV collections (12%).
    • 31% reported holding less than 100 AV assets, 34% reported holding more than 1,000 AV assets.
Various formats in collections, with the majority holding analog magnetic tape based collections (82% video tape, 73% audiocassette) and just over half (51%) have analog film collections) and 76% have digital collections.
    • 79% respondents said their AV collections are still growing.
    • 58% report that they have playback equipment.
    • 69% report that they are currently in the process of preserving their collections and 28% report that they are not, but plan to.
Preservation actions currently in use are reported as:
    • 56% Controlled environmental conditions
    • 78% Controlled access
    • 19% Repair
    • 69% Digitization
    • 3% Photochemical preservation
Oh the respondents, 9% report having a preservation plan in use, 9% report having a preservation plan that needs updating, and 9% being in the process of developing a preservation plan for their AV collection. 21% report having a current assessment of their AV collection. 6% report having a current emergency/ disaster plan for their collection. Urgent needs reported by respondents:
    • 50% Financial resources
    • 47% Staffing support
    • 48% Training
    • 45% Equipment
    • 45% Archival supplies
Highest priorities identified for training, by respondents:
    • 40% Hands on preservation and conservation techniques
    • 47% Processing AV collections
    • 48% Fundraising for preservation
    • 48% Copyright and permissions issues
    • 43% Preventative care for AV collections
    • 40% Digital preservation
    • 39% In-house digitization