Museum staff are increasingly faced with the identification, care, and conservation of videotape formats found in their collections and archives, some of which are many decades old. Staff must inspect the works to assess condition – often without the use of playback equipment – and catch problems before they compromise the works. Videotape has particular storage, housing, and handling needs that when addressed, will substantially prolong its shelf life. At some point in its lifecycle, more drastic measures, such as cleaning and re-formatting, will be necessary to allow future generations to experience art works created through the use of electronic tools.
