Enhancing access to audio and video collections of Raman research institute library through digitization

Abstract

The library at the Raman Research (RRI) began digitization of its audio and video (AV) collections starting in the year 2000 with the intent to enhance the accessibility of these items. AV collections in their original format are problematic since they are vulnerable to physical damage and decay in uncontrolled climate conditions. Further, as AV formats have changed over the years, older formats become unreadable due to the fact that the equipment needed to view such materials is obsolete or no longer available. This paper will show how RRI has taken multiple measures to address these various problems. At first, catalogue records were enhanced with additional metadata, but this did not sufficiently enhance access. Next, the library converted the AV materials to CDs, but this format also posed various problems, as CDs are susceptible to damage and do not allow for multiple simultaneous use. Finally, the RRI library digitized AV materials and placed them on the RRI intranet and the web for wider accessibility