Basic Inventory Template
General Guides
California Revealed Audiovisual Format Identification Guide: A printable .pdf for the vaults and on-the-go. Includes pictures and definitions for film, video and audio recordings, signs of active deterioration and damage, as well as tips for long-term storage. https://californiarevealed.org/sites/default/files/avformatguide
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC): http://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Electronic_Media
Digital Readiness Toolkit: a robust guide with resources for organizations and individuals creating and caring for digital collections of all kinds. This version is nearly two years in the making and has new and expanded resources for audiovisual collections. http://www.recollectionwisconsin.org/drt.
Audio Care and Storage
The Care and Handling of Recorded Sound Materials: Describes the basics of recording sound and outlines some degradation risks and preservation procedures for various sound formats. http://cool.conservation-us.org/byauth/st-laurent/care.html
Association of Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC): Founded in 1966, the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, study, publication, and information exchange surrounding all aspects of recordings and recorded sound. http://www.arsc-audio.org/index.php
Film Care and Storage
Washington State Film Preservation Manual: Low-cost and no-cost suggestions about how to care for your film. This manual includes information about how to identify what you have and what to do with it. https://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/collections/film-preservation-manual/.
Film Forever: The Home Film Preservation Guide: Easy-to-follow guide sponsored by the Association of Moving Image Archivists. http://www.filmforever.org
Little Film: Information about 8mm, Super-8mm, 9.5mm and 16mm film (the common home movie formats). http://www.littlefilm.org/.
The National Film Preservation Foundation Film Preservation Guide: http://www.filmpreservation.org/preservation-basics/the-film-preservation-guide
Video Care and Storage
AIC: Electronic Media Group: The Electronic Media Group, formed in 1998, is a subsidiary of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), a professional membership organization for conservators. https://www.culturalheritage.org/membership/groups-and-networks/electronic-media-group.
Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC): BAVC’s works with museums, independent artists/ mediamakers and cultural institutions around the world to remaster, transfer, and archive seminal creative and historical works on video and audio tape. http://www.bavc.org/preservation
Specs Bros.: Includes information on disaster planning for tapes. http://www.specsbros.com/
Texas Commission on the Arts Videotape Identification and Assessment Guide: This online guide was created by the Texas Commission on the Arts to assist custodians of video materials with the care and preservation of these materials. http://www.arts.texas.gov/video/
Video History Project: Research initiative that documents video art and community television as it evolved in rural and urban New York State, and across the U.S. http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/history/resources.html
Optical Media
An Introduction to Optical Media Preservation: http://www.avpreserve.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/OpticalMediaPreservation.pdf
Care and Handling of CDs and DVDs: A Guide for Librarians and Archivists: http://www.clir.org/pubs/abstract/pub121abst.html