Production, Preservation, and Access: The Struggle to Retain Audiovisual Archives

Abstract

Canadian audiovisual production in film or video, on tape or CD are in danger of deteriorating and, what is available, of becoming inaccessible. This was the conclusion of a Federal Task Force report titled Fading Away in 1995. The problem is all the greater six years later. Apart from the loss of a valuable heritage, the lack of support for the preservation of and access to audiovisual production is detrimental to major research interests in communications and related social sciences. This paper presents a general discussion of the issues involved and a call to action.