Research Resources 101

Recorded Media covers audio-visual recordings such as music and film, as well as personal interviews and performances. Over the years, many formats have been used to preserve recorded media - in Hekman Library, you can find music on LP records, cassette tapes, and CDs as well as movies on DVD and Blu-ray. Today, more and more, you can find recorded media through streaming platforms or free online; however, with these creative works, you need to be careful to observe copyright guidelines for their use. Copyright law exists to protect an artist from having their work stolen or misused - what that means for viewers/listeners is that most popular music and film is only available through purchase (always be careful of online sites offering recorded media "for free"). Libraries are one exception, providing free access to recorded media with some usage limitations (for example, you may not copy and resell the items yourself).

• Pros: Recorded media formats often essential for some studies (audio for music performance, audio-visual for film, etc.) ; media in the library is free to listen to or view
• Cons: Some formats may require specific viewing/listening equipment ; not all recorded media is freely available and in-tact (some current film may only be accessible through paid platforms, some historical music may only be available in degraded quality, etc.)
• Scholarly or Non? Most recorded media are created for popular audiences and so are not typically considered scholarly, though some film documentaries created by authoritative educational groups may be allowed as appropriate sources in research work. However, some media recordings may be considered primary sources, which carries a lot of scholarly value. Primary media sources include original recordings of music, film, interviews, etc. which provide a unique historical insight - first-hand accounts, performances, and experiences give us the most authentic information, which is why they are important in any scholarly studies of the past.

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