MPLP and the Audiovisual Archive: An Exploratory Study of Minimal

Processing Practices for Sound Recordings

Sofía Becerra-Licha | Berklee College of Music

SAA Research Forum | August 13, 2013

sbecerra@alumni.unc.edu

MPLP: More Product, Less Process

• Greene & Meissner (2005): “Golden Minimum” (pp. 212-213)

“expedites getting collection materials into the hands of users;

assures arrangement of materials adequate to user needs;

takes the minimal steps necessary to physically preserve collection materials;

describes materials sufficient to promote use”

MPLP & Audiovisual Archiving

MPLP: CritiquesA/V archiving: Challenges

• Diversity of archives• Technical support • Non-manuscript

collections

• Specialized training• Media considerations• Many localized

practices

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What has been the impact and/or application of the MPLP model on the processes used by audiovisual archivists?

• What does minimal processing look like for sound recordings versus paper-based archives?

• What disciplines, theories, or other influences have informed audiovisual archivists’ current practices?

Methodology• Snowball sample of U.S.-based audiovisual

repositories • 12 contacted• 11 participated (13 individual respondents)

• Semi-structured interviews (30 minutes) • Phone (9)• In-person (1)• Email (2)

Selected Demographics • Repository locations: • Northeast: 3• Southeast: 2• Midwest: 3• West Coast: 3

• Average staff: 2-4

• Holdings: 11,000 – 2,000,000 items • Average: 385,800

Results: applicability of MPLP• 3/13 considered MPLP to be central to their

current approach

• 11/13 indicated basic familiarity with MPLP

• 11/13 believed (some) aspects of MPLP were applicable to audiovisual materials

Results: minimal processing for A/V materials• 5/13 considered minimal processing to include

item-level description

• Most described their institution’s approach as more maximalist than minimalist

• Many factors & considerations• Commercial vs. non-commercial• Analog vs. digital • Research value• Preservation and/or storage requirements

Final Thoughts: MPLP & A/V Archives • Challenges: • MPLP vs findability • Limited resources• Lack of applicable literature/case studies

• Applications: • Holistic framework (mindset/planning)• Some short-cuts are possible: concert series,

recurring radio programs, etc. • Refocusing descriptive efforts

Selected References• American Folklife Center (2011). Archives, museums and libraries.

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/source/list_archives.php

• Bradley, C. J. (2003). Classifying and cataloging music in American libraries: A historical overview. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 35:3-4, 467-481.

• Casey, M., Gordon, B. (2007). Sound Directions: Best Practices for Audio Preservation. http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/sounddirections/papersPresent/sd_bp_07.pdf

• Fells, N., Donachy, P. Owen, C. (2002). Creating digital audio resources: A guide to good practice. Oxford: Oxbow.

• Greene, Mark A. , Meissner, D. (2005). More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival Processing. American Archivist, 68:2, 208-263.

• Hoffman, G. L. (2009). Meeting users’ needs in cataloging: What is the right thing to do? Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 47:7, 631-641.

• Jaszi, P., Lewis, N., eds. (2006). Capturing Analog Sound for Digital Preservation: Report of a Roundtable Discussion of Best Practices for Transferring Analog Discs and Tapes. Washington, D.C.: Council on Library and Information Resources and Library of Congress. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub137/pub137.pdf

• MacLeod, J., Lloyd, K. (1994). A study of music cataloging backlogs. Library resources & technical services, 38:1, 7-15.

• Mudge, S., Hoek, D. J. (2000). Describing jazz, blues, and popular 78 RPM sound recordings: Suggestions and guidelines. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 29:3, 21-48.

• Paton, C. A. (1990). Whispers in the stacks: The problem of sound recordings in archives. American Archivist, 53:2, 274-280.

• Prom, C. J. (2010). Optimum Access? Processing in College and University Archives. American Archivist, 73:1, 146-174.

• Prom, C.J. (2010). Forum (Letters to the Editor). American Archivist, 73:2, 411-420.

• Smith, A. Allen, D. R., Allen, K. (2004.) Survey of the state of audio collections in academic libraries. Washington, D.C.: Council on Library and Information Resources.

• Society for Ethnomusicology (2012). Archives, libraries, and museums. http://webdb.iu.edu/sem/scripts/links/linkentries.cfm?lcID=22

• Van Ness, C. (2010). Much Ado about Paper Clips: 'More Product, Less Process' and the Modern Manuscript Repository. American Archivist, 73:1, 129-145.

• Van Ness, C. (2010). Forum (Letters to the Editor). American Archivist, 73:2, 411-420.