Långtidsbevarande av korttidsformat: En studie av bevarandet av magnetband vid svenska arkiv
(2025) ABMM34 20251Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
- Abstract
- The purpose of the study is to contribute with new knowledge regarding the present-day preservation of video in Swedish archives, more specifically video as recorded on magnetic tapes. In the study a distinction is made between magnetic tapes and VHS-tapes, as the colloquial use of the brand name VHS is often used to categorize all magnetic tapes. The research questions centre on how the preservation of magnetic tapes has changed and how it can be improved in the future, as well as which decisions Swedish archival institutions make when prioritizing the preservation of magnetic tapes. The physical age of the material plays an important part in this study due to the physical degradation of the tapes and of the video tape players. Prior... (More)
- The purpose of the study is to contribute with new knowledge regarding the present-day preservation of video in Swedish archives, more specifically video as recorded on magnetic tapes. In the study a distinction is made between magnetic tapes and VHS-tapes, as the colloquial use of the brand name VHS is often used to categorize all magnetic tapes. The research questions centre on how the preservation of magnetic tapes has changed and how it can be improved in the future, as well as which decisions Swedish archival institutions make when prioritizing the preservation of magnetic tapes. The physical age of the material plays an important part in this study due to the physical degradation of the tapes and of the video tape players. Prior research on the topic is varied and lacking consensus regarding critical issues such as the life span of the material. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with archival staff who currently work with the preservation of magnetic tape from 5 Swedish archival institutions: Folklivsarkivet, Malmö stadsarkiv, Kungliga biblioteket, Riksarkivet, and Armé Marin och Flygfilm. An analysis of the interview material was done using thematic analysis which resulted in three themes: Methods of preservation, Problems, and Possible improvements. These themes have subcategories exploring the most common shared topics present during the interviews. The topics which came to light aligned with previous research in the field. The primary concerns are interconnected; the obsolescence of the machinery necessary for viewing tapes and the physical degradation of the magnetic tapes. Other issues include the lack of policies and rules implemented cohesively across the field, economic problems regarding funding, the need for education of future archival workers and technicians, the lack of interest for the issue, and the need for greater cooperation across disciplines and institutions. The conclusion of the study is that the active state of decay of the physical objects necessitates urgent preservation measures. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9191795
- author
- Rydbeck, Vendela LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Long-term preservation of short-term formats. A study of the preservation of magnetic tape in Swedish archives
- course
- ABMM34 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Archives, Magnetic tape, VHS, Preservation, Digitization, Video archives
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9191795
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-25 08:54:44
- date last changed
- 2025-06-25 08:54:44
@misc{9191795,
abstract = {{The purpose of the study is to contribute with new knowledge regarding the present-day preservation of video in Swedish archives, more specifically video as recorded on magnetic tapes. In the study a distinction is made between magnetic tapes and VHS-tapes, as the colloquial use of the brand name VHS is often used to categorize all magnetic tapes. The research questions centre on how the preservation of magnetic tapes has changed and how it can be improved in the future, as well as which decisions Swedish archival institutions make when prioritizing the preservation of magnetic tapes. The physical age of the material plays an important part in this study due to the physical degradation of the tapes and of the video tape players. Prior research on the topic is varied and lacking consensus regarding critical issues such as the life span of the material. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with archival staff who currently work with the preservation of magnetic tape from 5 Swedish archival institutions: Folklivsarkivet, Malmö stadsarkiv, Kungliga biblioteket, Riksarkivet, and Armé Marin och Flygfilm. An analysis of the interview material was done using thematic analysis which resulted in three themes: Methods of preservation, Problems, and Possible improvements. These themes have subcategories exploring the most common shared topics present during the interviews. The topics which came to light aligned with previous research in the field. The primary concerns are interconnected; the obsolescence of the machinery necessary for viewing tapes and the physical degradation of the magnetic tapes. Other issues include the lack of policies and rules implemented cohesively across the field, economic problems regarding funding, the need for education of future archival workers and technicians, the lack of interest for the issue, and the need for greater cooperation across disciplines and institutions. The conclusion of the study is that the active state of decay of the physical objects necessitates urgent preservation measures.}},
author = {{Rydbeck, Vendela}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Långtidsbevarande av korttidsformat: En studie av bevarandet av magnetband vid svenska arkiv}},
year = {{2025}},
}