Assessment and Prioritization:
Recent and Current Research and Development Projects

Part One – Assessment
The Preservation of Magnetic Tape Collections – One Perspective

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Jean-Louis Bigourdan
Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology

In 2003, the U. S. National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Preservation and Access, awarded funding to the Image Permanence Institute (IPI) for a research project dealing with the preservation of magnetic tape collections. The main objective was to study the feasibility of developing a nondestructive diagnostic tool for magnetic tape collections analogous to A-D Strips®, acid-detector strips for acetate-based film, previously developed by IPI. IPI’s research focused on investigating three indicators of tape binder decay: free acidity, acetone extraction, and friction tests. The study was designed as the primary step in the development of a simple field diagnostic test. After extensive testing, it was determined that the data cast doubt on the feasibility of creating an easy-to-use diagnostic device for assessing magnetic tape condition. Although the number of materials tested was necessarily limited, differences in their behavior were repeatedly observed, and this inconsistency was considered to be a significant obstacle to the development of a diagnostic device.

Therefore, during the course of the project, the primary objective of the research shifted toward providing a perspective outlining a possible strategy for preserving magnetic records, addressing, in short, (1) the need for optimizing tape storage, (2) the need for facilitating the emergence of new automated tape transfer technology, and (3) the creation of a decision-making tool for implementing prioritized transfer programs.

This presentation will summarize experimental data developed during IPI’s research and discuss its practical significance to the preservation of magnetic tape collections.