Strategies for dealing with the obsolescence of VHS
Options
- Update teaching material
- Purchase the same material on more contemporary media (DVD or streaming version)
- Transfer (format shift) VHS material to a digital format (DVD or streaming version)
- Archive your VHS tapes
Recommended options
Option 1: Find more recent teaching material
For some material, particularly descriptive material such as a documentary on a particular subject, there may be a more recent example. The new material may well be more up to date in its scholarship and may also look better. Being on DVD or as a streaming version it should also be more convenient to play.
Resources
UNSW Library:
- Informit - various
- Kanopy - various
- artfilms
- Theatre
- History
- Performance
- Music and performing arts
- Dance
- Journalism
- Film
- Art and architecture
Public domain videos:
- Internet Archive
including - Ephemeral VHS
Or record Free to Air:
- Free to Air: Material recorded off free to air under the act must include the Part VA notice
Option 2: Purchase DVD/Streaming version of material that is currently on VHS
If your material is a purchased copy, and the publisher has made a version available on DVD or as a streaming video, under copyright laws your only recourse is to purchase the updated version.
Resource
You can make a request for the UNSW library to buy a digital copy (see Kanopy). Remember, any DVD copies will be held by the library: Library Film Request
Option 3: Transfer (format shift) material to a digital format
If no commercial digital version is available for material on VHS, and it is to be taught in a space where no VHS equipment is available, material can be transferred (format shifted) under section 200AB of the copyright act. For more on this see FlexibleDealingHandbook, see in particular page 35.
Resource
A VHS – DVD recorder is now located on the second floor of the Webster building in the copy room. Please do not breach copyright laws when using this equipment.
If you have any technical questions about this please contact the TRC via the IT Service Centre on extension x51333 or itservicecentre@unsw.edu.au
Option 4: Preserve VHS material for archival purposes
If the material on VHS is your own material or rare footage it should be preserved. You may wish to digitise this material at the same time to continue viewing it. This job, particularly if it involves very delicate material or large volumes of material, is beyond the scope of the TRC.
Resource
National Film & Sound Archives: Caring for video tape
Further advice
- Faculty Outreach Librarian – Susie Yamaguchi & Anna J. Rutkowska
- UNSW library - UNSW library copyright information
- screenrights – Institution responsible for allowing use of free-to-air material.
- Creative Commons – Copyright agreement covering material that may be shared
- Copyright Act 1968
- Australian Copyright Council
Feel free to discuss any of this with the TRC. Please contact the TRC via the IT Service Centre on extenion x51333 or itservicecentre@unsw.edu.au
VHS image: allymobbs
The content on this page is intended for UNSW staff only
Need help?
If you have further questions, have a look at Self Help or the IT Service Centre website.
Alternatively, you can contact the IT Service Centre on 9385 1333.
CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G
ABN: 57 195 873 179
UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Telephone (+61 02) 9385 1333
Authorised by IT & AV Manager, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW Australia
Page last updated: Monday 3 April 2023