With apologies for cross-posting. 
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Announcement

TAPE workshop on management of audiovisual collections
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
28 September - 4 October 2005

Introduction:
Librarians, archivists and curators in charge of audiovisual collections need to know about the role of new technology in collection management. Digitisation offers unprecedented opportunities for access to historical materials. But how can it be combined with established preservation methods in an integrated strategy, to ensure optimal access today as well as in the future?

In this 5-day workshop, the characteristics of film, video and sound recordings and the different recording systems and devices will be reviewed. Specific requirements for their handling and preservation will be related to the nature and function of different kinds of audiovisual materials. The workshop will explore the different transfer and conversion methods, technical requirements in relation to quality, and long-term management of digital files. Issues will be approached as management problems, and due attention will be given to aspects like needs assessment, setting priorities, planning, budgeting and outsourcing, and project management

Participants will acquire knowledge of technical issues that will enable them to make informed decisions about the role of digitisation in care and management of audiovisual collections. The speakers will present outlines of issues and practical cases, and a substantial part of the workshops will be spent on discussions and group assignments to develop participants' skills in finding their own solutions.

Target group:
All those responsible for audiovisual collections in archives, museums, libraries. For this introductory course, no specific technical expertise is required. 

The workshop will be in English. Participants are expected to have a working knowledge of English in order to participate in discussions.


Organisation:
European Commission on Preservation and Access, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The workshops are supported by the Culture 2000-programme of the EU as part of the TAPE project

Venue: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam

Registration fee:
600 euros, this includes coffees, teas, lunches and a course pack with reading materials. Participants from institutes who are TAPE partners or ECPA contributors will pay 500 euros. 

How to apply:
For online registration: www.tape-online.net/courses.html
The registration deadline is 1 August 2005. 
By 15 August you will be informed whether your application has been accepted. In view of the character of the workshops which require group work and active participation, the number of participants is limited. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available places a selection will be made. Preference will be given to those applicants who manage an audiovisual collection. A detailed programme will be mailed after confirmation.

For more information on the TAPE project: www.tape-online.net

For more information on the workshop contact the ECPA:

European Commission on Preservation and Access (ECPA)
P.O. Box 19121, NL-1000 GC  Amsterdam, 
visiting address: c/o KNAW, Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29,
NL-1011 JV  Amsterdam, The Netherlands
tel. ++31 - 20 - 551 08 39   fax  ++31 - 20 - 620 49 41
URL: http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/