Dear Colleagues:
We are currently conducting a research project concerning Variable Media
collections (also termed Electronic Arts, Experimental Media,
Intermedia, New Media, Unstable Media, etc.).
We are particularly interested in the techniques used in their
organization and the problems and challenges inherent in providing access
to such collections.
We would appreciate if you could take a moment to complete the
questionnaire at the end of this e-mail and provide us with your
valuable input to this endeavor. The completed e-mail questionnaire
should be forwarded to [log in to unmask]
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Hemalata Iyer, Associate Professor
Interim Director, MS in Information Science Program
University at Albany, SUNY
Albany, NY 12222
********************************************
Note: This section contains the Institutional Review Board requirements
for conducting research involving human subjects:
As is always the case with research conducted by university faculty, this
research was submitted for approval to the Institutional Review Board.
Returning the questionnaire constitutes your agreement to participate in
this research. The IRB wants you to be aware of following information
concerning this research:
1. Study title: Organization and Access to Variable Media
2. Investigator: Professor Hemalata Iyer, Associate Professor and
Interim Director of M.S. in Information Science Program, University at
Albany, State University of New York
3. The purpose of this questionnaire is to explicit responses
regarding techniques used in the organization of and access to Variable
Media Collections.
4. You will be expected complete the questionnaire
5. Participation is voluntary. However, if you wish to withdraw
after sending the completed questionnaire you may e-mail the
investigator.
6. Returning the questionnaire indicates your consent to
participate.
7. Participating in the study should take approximately 30 minutes
to complete the questionnaire.
8. No risks are expected to result for you from your
participation in this project. You are of course free to decline to
answer any questions. No information in the publication of the study will
identify you or your institution.
9. No direct benefits are expected to result for you from your
participation in this research, although your participation will
contribute to the growth of our professional knowledge base on variable
media access.
10. a) your participation in this research is completely
voluntary; b) you may discontinue your participation at any time without
penalty; and c) you may also choose not to answer any question(s) you do
not wish to for any reason.
11. Participation in the study will be confidential and identifiers, such
as e-mail addresses, will be removed immediately to render the data
anonymous. Although the results of this study may be published, no
information that could identify you or your institution will be
included.
12. We will keep all records that identify you private to the extent
allowed by law. However, officials from the federal government and/or the
University at Albany may inspect the records that identify you for the
purpose of protecting your rights as a human participant.
Contact Information: Professor Hemalata Iyer
[log in to unmask]
(518)442-5116
If you have any questions regarding your rights as a participant,
contact the Compliance Office, Office for Sponsored Programs, at (518)
437-4569.
********************************************
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE REGARDING VARIABLE MEDIA COLLECTIONS
Through this questionnaire we are collecting data on Variable Media*
collections (also termed Electronic Arts, Experimental Media,
Intermedia, New Media, Unstable Media, etc.). We are particularly
interested in the techniques used in their organization and the problems
and challenges involved in providing access to such collections.
Variable media” can be defined as works of digital and internet art,
performance, installation, conceptual, and other time-based pieces that
challenge traditional art formats.
COLLECTION SPECIFICS:
1. Do you have a video collection (VHS, DVD, DV Tape, Laser Disk, etc.)?
Yes
No
2. Does this or another collection contain variable media forms or formats?
Yes
No
3. Do these collections have names?
4. Is it (are they) part of a larger repository or entity (library,
department collection archives, museum, etc.)? If so, please specify.
5. What is the rationale behind the collection’s placement within a larger
entity?
6. What is the source of your funding?
7. Is there a special subject area of the collection (for example,
Feminism, the Arts, Virtual Reality, etc.)?
8. What format(s) are in the collection? Please include all that apply:
Video: Digital Video (DV) Tapes, Digital Video Disks (DVDs), Laser Disks,
Mini Digital Video (DV) Tapes, VHS Tapes (all sizes)
Audio: Cassette Tapes, Compact Disks (Audio CDs), Digital Audio Tapes
(DAT), Long-Playing Records (LPs)
Data Formats: 3 ¼ inch Floppy Disk, Compact Disks (CD-ROMs or Data Files),
Digital Video Disks (DVD-ROMs), Zip Cartridges
Other (Please specify):
9. How many items are in the collection?
10. How was your collection acquired?
11. Do you have a written acquisition policy or plan for the next 5 years
regarding adding new items?
Yes
No
12. Who uses the collection (general public, academics, students,
performers, artists etc.)?
13. For what purposes is the collection used?
********************************************
DIGITIZATION:
14. Are you currently considering or implementing any digitization efforts?
Considering:
Yes
No
Implemented:
Yes
No
15. If so, what type of system (software, tool, manual technique) are you
considering or are you using?
16. What video format (.mov, .mpeg 1 through 4, .avi, etc.) are you
considering or using?
********************************************
ORGANIZATION OF THE COLLECTION:
GENERAL:
17. What kind of catalog, index, or software is used for organizing this
collection? Include as many as apply and furnish particulars.
Inventory
Card catalog
Database system (without video storage) name:
Online catalog name:
Web-based database system name:
Video indexing and annotation tools name:
Other (please specify)
18. Please state the reasons for choosing these types of organizational
tools:
********************************************
SUBJECT ACCESS:
19. Do you utilize a vocabulary or list of terminology to provide
subject access to the collection? Check as many as apply.
Standard Library Tools such as LCSH, please specify
Standard indexing tools such as the AAT, please specify
In-house lists, please specify
Terms used by artists, academicians, or other associated persons
Terms from a description found with the item itself
Others, please specify
20. Do you have guidelines for assigning subject access terminology? If
yes, please give brief description.
yes
no
21. Depth of indexing:
Please indicate the average number of indexing terms utilized:
22. Are existing methods adequate for your needs? Please explain why or
why not?
********************************************
DESCRIBING THE ITEM:
23. How do you describe an item (with bibliographic information such as
director, title, creator, etc. or subject information like
animation, or thematic or visual information, etc)? What fields are used
for these descriptions?
24. Are these fields based on any of the standard descriptive
cataloging (AACR) or metadata (ex. VRA Core, Dublin Core etc)
Formats? Please specify:
25. What were your reasons for choosing that format for description?
********************************************
PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES:
26. Please explain the types of problems you encounter in organizing and
providing access to your collection?
27. What would you describe as the most useful features of your
organizational system?
28. In what ways can you envision the information science profession
providing you with assistance in resolving your most significant
problems?
29. If you had the time and money what would you change about your system?
30. Please provide the name and website address (if available) of your
organization. Personal name is optional.
********************************************
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONTRIBUTION TO THIS WORK!
Hemalata Iyer, Associate Professor, University at Albany (SUNY)
PLEASE RETURN ELECTRONICALLY TO: [log in to unmask]
Hemalata Iyer, Associate Professor
Interim Director, MS in Information Science and Policy
School of Information Science and Policy
University at Albany
State University of New York
135 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel#: (518)442-5116
__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
http://www.arlisna.org//membership.html
Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]
|