The equipment contained in the Video Conversion Kit allows for the creation of access copies of VHS and DVD video content, suitable for display on the web for greater visibility, and to minimize the need to handle and play from the original analog format, thus prolonging its life.
Audience
The kit is designed to be used by staff at libraries and cultural heritage organizations that wish to digitize video content stored on VHS tapes and DVDs in order to extend online access to video content held in their collections, and contribute to the Plains to Peaks Collective (PPC) (and by extension the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)) through the creation of oral history interviews. It is expected that the oral history interviews created with this equipment will also be made available for sharing through the Stories of Colorado Collection .
Contents
- 1 1” white resource kit binder containing:
- 1 gold key-shaped USB flash drive containing printable documents
- 1 binder pouch containing spare AA battery
- 1 Clipboard
- 1 DVD/VHS Player
- 1 VHS-C Adapter
- AA battery included
- Elgato Digital Capture Device
- RCA Composite Cord
- 1 1TB External Hard Drive (with case)
- 1 USB Cord
- 1 Laptop Computer
- 1 DC Power Cord
- Laminated Reference Guide
- Unpacking & Repacking the Kit
Downloadables
Further Reading
Digital Capture & Digital Video Preservation
- Digital Video Preservation, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 2020
- The Digitization of VHS Videotapes – Technical Bulletin 31, Canadian Conservation Institute, 2020
- NARA Video Guidance, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 2016
- Minimum Digitization Capture Recommendations, The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), 2013
- Best Practices and Planning for Digitization Projects, WebJunction, July 2010
- Oral History in the Digital Age, Michigan State University, 2017
Vendor Recommendations for Digital Video Capture & Preservation
- AMIA Supplier Directory: A Global Directory of Services and Suppliers of Audiovisual Media from the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA)
- Video Preservation from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works In “Basic Search”, use the drop-down menu under “Select the Type of Conservation” and choose “Electronic Media.”
- Moving Image Copy Orders, Vendor Contact List from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Copyright
- Understanding Copyright, DPLA, 2015
- Rightsstatements.org
- Webinar. RightsStatements.org: Why We Need It, What It Is (and Isn’t) and What Does It Mean? Part 1 and Part 2
- Society of American Archivists Guide to Implementing Rights Statements from Rightsstatements.org
Documentation
- Examples of Oral History Release Form, Project Participant Form (something that can capture basic biographical info about a person), etc.
Cataloging and Metadata
- Using Metadata to Describe Digital Content, DPLA, 2015
Templates
Metadata Worksheets (XLS)
Includes worksheets for Required and Recommended Fields, Omeka CSV Import, and Generic CSV Import.
Video Conversion Kit Feedback Form (PDF)
Help & Support
General Kit Support
For questions about borrowing, delivery, or return of the kit, contact Kit Support at KitSupport@coloradovirtuallibrary.org.
Video Conversion Support
For questions or assistance with the use of hardware, software, or documentation found within the Video Conversion Kit, contact:
Amy Hitchner
Metadata and Integration Services Consultant
ahitchner@coloradovirtuallibrary.org