Selection and Acquisition Policy

1. Introduction

1.1 The range and nature of SA/NTK’s collecting responsibilities are defined from time to time by NZ on Air and SA/NTK. Briefly they include (in order of priority):

  • a) Recorded radio broadcasts made in New Zealand
  • b) Other recordings having relevance to radio broadcasting in New Zealand only when the historical significance of such recordings is of the first order
  • c) Ephemera, documents and artefacts relating to radio broadcasts

1.3 Selection is the process of choosing appropriate items to add to the collection. Acquisition is the subsequent step of ensuring that selected material is added to the collection. Accession is the process of initially recording the arrival of new material into the Archive.

2. Selection

2.1 Selection judgements should reflect a balanced overview of tastes, trends, and views of history and society.

2.2 SA/NTK seeks to acquire a broad range of material of enduring national cultural significance.

2.3 Priority will be given to materials of New Zealand origin or association. However, because New Zealand’s cultural values develop in an international context the collection must reflect this.

2.4 SA/NTK may choose to record events, statements, personal reminiscences, performances etc to augment the national collection.

2.5 SA/NTK seeks to complement and co-operate with, rather than duplicate, the activities and emphases of other collecting institutions. It observes the relevant international professional practices and protocols, and the obligations of its membership in professional federations.

2.6 SA/NTK reserves the right to deselect material from its collections and dispose of it with due observance of the legalities involved.

3. General Selection Criteria

The following criteria are principal factors against which the cultural value of material is measured.

3.1 Content: The work may have one or more of the following attributes:

i) Documentary social record, including:

  • actuality recordings of historic events (political, economic, sporting etc)
  • social history including contemporary society (social conditions, work, leisure, folklore, oral history etc)
  • people of historic interest (voices and reminiscences of prominent people in all fields - the arts, entertainment, literature, science, politics, religion, sport etc
  • a record of geographical places, especially those related to stages of development
  • sound effects and documentary sound

ii) Drama, entertainment and arts programmes

iii) Music (the work of NZ composers & performers). Priority being given to recordings made for broadcast rather than commercially available recordings.

The secondary characteristics of a work may be a stronger argument for selection than its primary intent. For example, an old radio drama might be aesthetically mediocre but a clear indicator of social mores prevalent in the past.

3.2 Form: The work may have physical, aesthetic or technical attributes of historic or educative importance.

3.3 External Association: A work may be important because of its association with personalities, events or social phenomena. For example, it may be the object of an award, or have had wide social impact.

3.4 Material illustrative of the history, nature and dynamic of the radio broadcast media. This includes extended ‘slices’ of radio programming preserved as such, programmes reflecting broadcasting styles, particular performers, commercials, trivia, bloopers etc, oral history, publicity and promotional materials, photographs, posters, vintage equipment.

3.5 Range: Recorded sound carriers of all technical descriptions predominate in the collection, and embody its central character. These are supplemented by paper based materials of all types (known collectively as documentation), objects and artefacts.

3.6 The collection should include a representative and balanced sampling of programmes, productions and materials by period, geographic location, type and social impact.

3.7 Trends in demand for access to SA/NTK’s collection are, in themselves, an indication of cultural values and a legitimate factor in selection decisions.

4. Selection Priorities

4.1 In so far as it is practical to give equal attention to all aspects of the recorded sound heritage at any one time, priority of attention is given, in order, to items:

  • a) made in or about New Zealand or New Zealanders]
  • b) made by or about Maori, especially material in te Reo Maori
  • c) made by New Zealanders overseas

4.2 Subject to 4.1, prime attention shall be given to endangered, unique or rare items, material of highest heritage value, or material which other institutions do not acquire.

5. Acquisition Principles

5.1 Acquisition is the process of physically adding selected items to the collection.

5.2 Material is sought in the condition, format and quantities which best meet preservation and/or access objectives.

5.3 Donation and direct recording off-air, as the strongly preferred means of acquisition, are encouraged. However, and in certain cases deposit of recordings, is also pursued as an acquisition strategy.

5.4 SA/NTK reserves the right to make, at any time, such copies as it considers necessary for preservation and access (subject to 5.5 below).

5.5 SA/NTK will honour the entitlements of copyright owners and donors in its subsequent dealing with collection items.

5.6 Given its history as an in-house archive for public radio, SA/NTK gives special attention to the acquisition of Radio NZ recordings. Nothing implied in this relationship shall override any other policy principle relating to selection or acquisition.

5.7 SA/NTK may from time to time solicit opinion from various user and/or stakeholder groups regarding the merits of acquiring certain recordings or types of recording. Regardless of any such advice, responsibility for the implementation of the selection policy must remain as defined in S.8 below.

5.8 The beneficiaries of acquisition by SA/NTK are: a) the New Zealand people on whose behalf the SA/NTK performs its functions and b) the owners of rights in the material concerned. SA/NTK can never be in the debt of its donors or depositors and it cannot respond to acquisition proposals which assert otherwise.

6. General Acquisition Criteria

6.1 All items must be available for inspection by SA/NTK before acquisition.

6.2 Formed collections are acquired in toto if selected as such. Otherwise items are sought individually whether or not they are part of formed collections.

6.3 Because there is no such thing as a cost free acquisition, each transaction is assessed in relation to its total cost: including travel, overheads, packing, shipping, etc.

6.4 Further collection management and preservation implications are assessed beforehand: for instance, processing workload, storage space requirements, impact on preservation programme and budget. The transaction proceeds only if the implications are acceptable.

7. Acquisition Mechanisms

7.1 All acquisitions, other than those made by off-air recording pursuant to S.90 of the Copyright Act 1994, will be documented with standard contracts. These contracts will define the content and nature of the acquisition, and the obligations and rights of the parties involved.

7.2 Standing arrangements for the donation of material by producers or their representatives are encouraged.

7.3 SA/NTK recognises the following type of acquisition transaction:

  • a) donation
  • b) off-air recording
  • c) deposit
  • d) bequest

8. Responsibility

Responsibility for the implementation of this policy rests with the Chief Archivist or his or her delegate

Policy Documents

Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero operates within the framework of written policies. These policies provide consistent guidance for staff in areas of preservation, public access to archives, and the selection and acqusition of new recordings. These are viewable online.

Access Policy

Preservation Policy

Selection and Acquisition Policy

They will subject to amendment from time to time, and may also be supplemented with policies covering other areas of our work.

If you wish to make a donation or have any query please contact us.

 

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