Seminar in Archives and Records Management - Film Collections and Archives
INFO 284

Nancy Friedland
E-mail
Office location: Canvas/Email
Office Hours: Monday 1 pm - 3 pm EST.

This course will provide an overview of the issues related to the collecting, preserving, accessing and servicing of moving images. Moving image collections are found in libraries, archives, special collections, museums, non-profit institutions and corporations. The content may represent a range of formats including 35mm and 16mm prints, tape formats, disc formats, and digital streaming video files. The course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the unique issues related to these collections and archives. Support and maintenance of moving image collections require attention to special needs in all aspects of librarianship: curation, budget, cataloging, preservation, storage, access and an emerging set of new requirements in support of streaming video. The course is intended as preparation and background for prospective librarians, archivists, and curators working with or supporting these collections.

Expectations

Students are expected to participate fully in all class activities. It is expected that students will be open-minded and participate fully in discussions in class and debate in a mature and respectful manner. Use of derogatory, condescending, or offensive language including profanity is prohibited. Disagreement is healthy and perfectly acceptable. Expressing disagreement should always include an explanation of your reasoning and, whenever possible, evidence to support your position. In accordance with San José State University's Policies, the Student Code of Conduct, and applicable state and federal laws, discrimination based on gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability is prohibited in any form.

Course Workload

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group; contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

INFO 284 supports the following core competencies:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the evolution of film formats and the relevance of film collections and archives in public and academic libraries.
2. Understand the processes for the acquisitions, cataloging, preservation, and access of moving image collections.
3. Apply copyright law to film collections in relation to access, preservation, fair use, classroom exemptions, and public performances.
4. Describe the challenges related to the acquisition and preservation of streaming video formats.

Textbooks

No Textbooks For This Course.

Assignments

Overview of Film Archives

Write an overview of three film archives. Provide historical context for the archives and identify and describe the following: holdings, current collection policies, scope of content, formats, access, preservation initiatives, funding, and governance. 

Helps to fulfill course learning outcomes #1, #2, Helps to satisfy Core Competencies D, F, G

25 Points

Filmography

Students will be required to develop an annotated filmography. The filmography is intended to serve the needs of a specific course or research project. The students will have to determine the scope of available films including feature film and documentary film content. The filmography will identify distributors for each film, list website and contact information, and available distribution in both DVD/Blu-ray and streaming formats. In addition, the filmography will include budget and acquisition information for each DVD/Blu-ray title and/or the perpetual or term license fee for streaming video. The filmography will include an introductory summary of the acquisition search process and justification for the selected titles.

Helps to fulfill course learning outcomes #2, #3, #4

Helps to satisfy Core Competencies D and F

25 Points

Grant Funding for Film Archives and Collections: Research Guide

The assignment is focused on creating a LibGuide as a resource and handbook for funding preservation projects in film archives and collections. The guide will identify resources and steps for funding a film archive and collection, provide elements for writing a grant, identify profile and preservation needs of a film archive and collection, and identify funding resources focused on preservation and conservation. 

Helps to fulfill course learning outcome #1, #2, #3

Helps to satisfy Core Competencies D, F, G

30 Points

Course Discussions

Participation is required in at least five discussions. Course discussions are vital to the evaluation of student engagement in the course topics and readings.

20 points

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

• C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
• B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class if you wish to stay in the program. If - on the second attempt - you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  
• A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

Per University Policy S16-9 (PDF), relevant university policy concerning all courses, such as student responsibilities, academic integrity, accommodations, dropping and adding, consent for recording of class, etc. and available student services (e.g. learning assistance, counseling, and other resources) are listed on the Syllabus Information web page. Make sure to visit this page to review and be aware of these university policies and resources.

Introduction: Moving Image Collections and Archives

Short History of Film and Television

Feature Films, Shorts, Documentaries, and Television

Evolution of Formats

Archives and Library Collections

Collection Development

Film Distribution and Acquisitions

Copyright

Streaming Video

Preservation and Conservation

Social Media and Moving Images 

Research and Curricular Needs 

Management of Film Collections