THE SOURCES: IN DEFENCE OF A NEW APPROACH READING BOOKS-IN DEFENCE OF THE COLLECTIONS OF AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES

INTRODUCTION

The standard rule of approaching the content of any book is to study information written on at the title page of the book: The title of the book, the name of the publisher, the year for releasing the book, the name of the translator, and the name of those who supported the publishing of the book. Basic facts of the book are put on the title page-facts that are called metadata by the new media librarians working for an audiovisual archive.

THE GOAL

My new approach for any reader who wanted to find information about the sources for the information published in the book, must begin to read the book backward. The last pages of the book are a thrilling experience for scouts searching for audiovisual information used in the book. My assumption is that the selected sources used by the author might reveal forgotten sources or sources of no less importance for the content decided by the author? My critical assumption to the list of used sources might be wrong or exaggerated in a negative sense?

THE WANTED SOURCES STORED IN AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES

The aim of my research is to investigate whether movies, radio programmes, photos, television programmes, documentaries are objects for the content of the book. If the author made references in his book to the sources mentioned, you take it for granted that the information is to be found among used sources like written reports and books related to the content of the book.

Let me explain my point of view by reporting about one book which I read with great interest during my holiday in Alanya, Turkey in 2018. The  book was left at the hotel by one of the guests. The book was a biography of the famous British author, Roald Dahl. The title of the book was: Roald Dahl. Grensesprengeren. The Norwegian author was Øivind Bratberg,and the book was published by the Norwegian company, Dreyer Forlag Oslo, in 2016. 333 pages.

I must admit that I had read very few of his books. I recalled the name because I take holidays at the same site in Norway where he went with his family on holidays: Tjøme,a seaside site not far from the city of Tønsberg.  I read the book with great interest. The story of Road Dahl was not a boring story at all. Well written by the author. While reading the book, I found it great that he referred to Norwegian television productions and produces and my old working place, The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation(NRK). Splendid! After having read the book, I took time in studying the sources at the end of the book. My critical assumption was awoke. NRK is registered at page 15, 91, 290 and at page 293 of the book. Splendid. What about the references to Nrk published at the end of the book?

The famous Norwegian reporter and writer Henry Notaker who used to work for years for Nrk, has been selected for the register of names. But to my surprise the famous Norwegian actor and former television producer, Harald Heide Steen, was not selected for the register. Four Norwegian transmitted productions produced by Nrk, are mentioned in the book. To my surprise only one of the programmes was registered as a source.

I paid the audiovisual archives of NRK a private visit to investigate facts about Road Dahl. The result
was: 803 hits were found in the radio archive ,and 343 hits in the old television archive. Norway had not forgotten the famous British writer whose mother was Norwegian.

CONCLUSION

I have used only one book to explain my critical attitude to the lack of official recognition of materials stored in audiovisual archives worldwide. One book only. The reasons for not making a list of all sources used in the book might be a result of the following policy or lack of policy of the publishing companies?

-          For economic reasons only. It was too expensive making the list of references for the book

-          The facts were forgotten

-          Old fashioned and negative academic attitude to television programmes, movies, radio programmes used as sources. Written documents and published books are more important as sources than material from audiovisual archives

The fight for an official recognition of productions made by television and radio as sources for academic research and for new book productions, is an unfinished battle. The sources used by any author must be treated equally. The new digitalization of materials from audiovisual archives is a challenge for those who are going to write new historical books, political biographies, newspaper reports and new productions made for YouTube.

Backward readings of books are recommended. Read and study the list of sources with a critical attitude to content of the lists. Good hunting and good luck.