Introduction
One of NZ On Air's responsibilities pursuant to section 36(d) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 is to:
- "encourage the establishment and operation of archives of programmes which are likely to be of historical interest"
- "empowers NZ On Air to make funds available on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit for the archiving of programmes"
NZ On Air is only interested in funding archiving activities. No funding will be provided for production library services.
The key distinctions between public archives and production libraries is as follows:
Public Archive
- Dedicated to long term preservation
- Not commercial (but some user-pays)
- Open access to collections
- Material held on behalf of the public
- Independent from the broadcasters
Production Library
- Driven by production demands
- Attempts to be commercial
- Restricted and mediated access usually on the grounds of efficiency
- Material owned by the library
- Associated with broadcasters
In summary, a public archive holds broadcast material of cultural and historical value for the benefit of the public while a production library predominantly holds material for future reuse by the broadcaster and commercial exploitation.
