75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939
Oral history project
Information for libraries
Prepared by
Louise Darmody
Sound Memories
Tel (02) 9925 0492
Mob 0408630803
Email louised@bigpond.net.au
Contents
About the 75th anniversary of the Library Act oral history project
3
Training day outline and agenda
4
Signposts for oral history: Framework and guidelines
6
Form 1: Pre-interview form
7
Form 2: Rights agreement form
10
Signposts for oral history: Recording equipment
16
Recommended equipment list
16
Digital sound recording: Theory and basics
21
Signposts for oral history: Interview techniques
24
Sample questions
24
Signposts for oral history: Sharing stories
26
Form 3: Data summary worksheet A3 template
(insert)
Form 4: Data summary worksheet A3 example
(insert)
Transcription and summaries
26
Form 5: Summary log template
27
Form 6: Summary log example
28
How to donate your oral history to the State Library
32
Interview checklist
33
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
75th anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939
Oral history project outline
Project outline
NSW public libraries carry out oral history interviews with former library managers, staff or members to
capture their memories of the growth and development of NSW libraries over the last 75 years.
Background
The NSW Library Act was passed on 3 November 1939. This landmark legislation led to the provision of
free public library services for the people of NSW.
Seventy five years later, public libraries are going strong, with 369 libraries across the state, 3.2 million
members (that’s 44% of the population), 46 million loans per annum and over 35 million people visiting
libraries each year.
The 75th anniversary of the Library Act is an opportunity to celebrate and promote the strong position of
NSW public libraries and look towards the future.
The big picture
The oral history project relates to all three objectives of the 75th anniversary of the NSW Library Act
project:
 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 and the development of free
public libraries in NSW
 to celebrate and promote NSW public libraries
 to provide opportunities for NSW public libraries to engage with each other and the State Library.
Project objectives
 to record the growth and development of NSW public libraries through the memories of former
library managers and staff
 to generate new content in the form of oral history recordings
 to provide professional development opportunities to NSW public library staff.
Project outputs
 oral history interviews with former public library managers or staff are recorded by NSW public
libraries by 30 November 2014
 oral history interviews are shared on the 75th anniversary of the Library Act blog
http://libraryact75th.tumblr.com/
 oral histories are donated by NSW public libraries to the State Library to create a 75th
anniversary of the Library Act 1939 oral history collection by early 2015
 one day training session held at the State Library on 16 September 2014 to provide guidance on
oral history methodology and best practice
Scope
To mark the 75th anniversary of the NSW Library Act, oral history interviews should be carried out with
former library managers or staff (or in some cases members) who can share memories of NSW public
libraries over the last 75 years.
For more information contact Edwina Duffy at edwina.duffy@sl.nsw.gov.au or 9273 1526.
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Oral history training day outline
16 September 2014, State Library of NSW
The day will be useful for people who are new to oral history as well as those with some
experience, as we will discuss how to plan and record interviews in the context of this project
and how you can donate your oral history to the State Library.
The day will cover guidelines and best practice for recording oral history interviews, such as
preparing for interviews, interview techniques, what equipment to use, what to do with your
interview once you have recorded it and how to share your interviews.
The day will be led by Louise Darmody, who has worked in education and radio, and runs her
own oral history and documentary-making business called Sound Memories.
Aims of the day:



To excite, inspire and motivate you to capture some great stories for the 75 th anniversary
of the Library Act 1939 Oral History Project
To provide tools and resources to get you started and support your work
To provide a framework and guidelines for best practice
Pre-course task:


Bring an object or piece of ephemera from your library and be prepared to talk about it for
a few minutes
If your library has any recording equipment please bring it along, as there will be
opportunities to practise using the equipment during the day
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Oral history training day agenda
16 September 2014, State Library of NSW
9.30am
Registration, tea and
coffee
10.00am Session 1:
Framework and
guidelines


Welcome and introduction to the 75th anniversary of
the Library Act 1939 oral history project
Interview checklist: preparing for the interview
o Guidelines and forms
o Ethical practice
o Research and preparation
11.15am Break
11.30am Session 2:
Recording
equipment





The importance of good recordings
Discussion of good practice: examples of a good and
bad recording
Technical information and requirements
Practical session: sharing knowledge of equipment
What to do with your interview once you have recorded
it: how to transfer and edit your recording, signposts to
programs and resources
12.30pm Lunch break



What makes a good question?
Sample questions
Practical session: carrying out interviews in small
groups, using the object or ephemera you have
brought along
Session 4: Sharing
stories

The big picture: how do we share our stories?
3.45pm
Wrap up


Summary of day, feed back
What happens next, sign posts to help and support
4.00pm
Finish
1.30pm
Session 3: Interview
technique
2.30pm
Break
2.45pm
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Signposts for Oral History: Framework and guidelines
The following links are provided as signposts to where you can find further information.
Where do I start?
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch), 2010, pp. 4-10
Designing an Oral History project: Initial questions to ask yourself
http://ohda.matrix.msu.edu/2012/06/designing-an-oral-history-project/
Research and preparation
See Form 1: Pre-interview form
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch), 2010, pp. 8 - 10
Oral history project planning and management
http://ohda.matrix.msu.edu/2012/06/project-planning-and-management/
Ethics and copyright
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch) pp. 13 – 20 and 96-7
Oral History Australia: Guidelines of Ethical Practice
http://www.oralhistorynsw.org.au/guidelines-of-ethical-practice.html
Arts Law Centre of Australia: Legal resources
http://www.artslaw.com.au/legal/raw-law/video/#standard
The above video is an excellent short video with practical examples of copyright
Introduction to Copyright and Rights Agreement forms (or Conditions of Use Forms)
http://www.oralhistorynsw.org.au/files//media/doing_oh_-_copyright_conditions_of_use_forms_.pdf
Guidelines on fees for interviewing and transcription
http://www.oralhistoryaustralia.org.au/files/Determining_Fees_August_2009.pdf
See Form 2: State Library of NSW Oral History Rights Agreement 2014
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Form 1: Pre-interview Form
FULL NAME: (with maiden name if applicable)
DATE OF BIRTH:
PLACE OF BIRTH:
FATHER’S NAME: (date and place of birth)
MOTHER’S NAME: (date and place of birth)
SIBLING’S NAMES AND YEARS OF BIRTH:
FATHER’S OCCUPATION/S:
MOTHER’S OCCUPATION/S – BEFORE MARRIAGE AND AFTER MARRIAGE:
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
WHERE GREW UP (TO SCHOOL AGE):
SCHOOLS ATTENDED:
PRIMARY
YEARS:
SECONDARY
YEARS:
TERTIARY EDUCATION/TRAINING
YEARS:
NAME/S OF SPOUSE/SPOUSES WITH DATES:
CHILDREN’S NAMES AND YEARS OF BIRTH:
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
CAREER – Summary with years, including any war experience, overseas or home front. Also –
where relevant – date of immigration arrival in Australia
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Oral History Collection
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
INTERVIEWEE/SPEAKER
1. Your name and contact details (please print)
Title:
________
Given name:
______________________________________________
Family name:
______________________________________________
Honours:
______________________________________________
Address:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Phone (h):
_______________________________
Phone (w):
_______________________________
Mobile:
_____________________
Email:
_____________________
2.
Which of your contact details may we give to enquirers?

□ None: I would prefer the Library to contact me on the enquirer’s behalf
□
Address
□
Phone (h)
□
Phone (w)
□ Mobile
□
Email
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
3. Your biographical details (optional)
Date of birth _____________________________________________
Previous or current professions/occupations _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Brief biography (or attach separately)________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. Name of additional contact to assist Library in maintaining correspondence with the
interviewee (optional)
Title:____________
Given name ___________________________________________________________________
Family name:___________________________________________________________________
Date of birth:_________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Phone (h) :_____________________________
Phone (w) :_____________________________
Mobile:
_____________________________
Email :
_____________________________
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
MATERIAL COVERED BY THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Questions 5-9 allow you to control access to and use of your interview during your lifetime. Material
includes audio recordings made from this interview, any transcript or summary text created as a result of
the interview, other related material provided by the interviewee and any photographs taken during the
interview session.
5. Do you permit unrestricted access to and use of the material?
Includes allowing:
- People to research the material and make notes about it
- People to have copies of the material for personal use
- The Library to make the material accessible online through its website
- People to have copies of the material for public use
□ Yes > go to question 10
□ No > continue through all questions 6-10
RESEARCH AND PERSONAL USE
6.
Do you permit people to research the material and make notes about it
while on the Library’s premises or on loan in other libraries?
(a) □ Yes
(b) □ Yes, but only if the Library has received my permission on each request
(c) □ Yes, but only after the following date or event (e.g. ‘after my death’)
7.
Do you permit people to have copies of the material for personal use?
(a) □ Yes
(b) □ Yes, but only if the Library has received my permission on each request
(c) □ Yes, but only after the following date or event
8.
Do you permit the Library to provide access to the material on its website, so that people
can listen to it, make notes about it or download a copy for personal use only?
(a) □ Yes If answering yes here (which allows people to listen to, make notes about and obtain
a
copy of your interview for personal use) ensure you have ticked Yes for Questions
6(a) & 7(a)
(b) □ No
(c) □ Only after the following date or event
State date/event: _______________________________________________
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
PUBLIC USE
9. Do you permit people to use the material publicly?
(e.g. publications, films, transmissions, broadcasts and other public ways, including uses in online
media)
(a) □ Yes
(b) □ Yes, but only if the Library has received my permission on each request
(c) □ Yes, but only after the following date or event (e.g. ‘after my death’)
State date/event:
10. Agreement
I understand and agree that




The Library owns copyright in this recording and any associated transcript or summary
The Library (State Library of NSW) licenses other public libraries to use this recording in all of the
ways specified in Clauses 5 to 10 of this form
The Library will only provide access to this recording in accordance with the provisions I have
specified in this document or any subsequent changes made by me during my lifetime
The information I have provided in this interview is truthful to the best of my recollection.
_________________________________
(Interviewee’s signature)
______________________
(Date)
Interviewee name:
_________________________________________
Interviewer name:
_________________________________________
Place of interview:
_________________________________________
Date of interview:
_________________________________________
12. What to do with this form
Please give the completed form to your interviewer or return it by post to Edwina Duffy, Project Officer,
Public Library Services, State Library of New South Wales, Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
For inquiries please contact us on 02 92731526.
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Guide to Completing the Rights Agreement Form: Questions 5-9
Question 5. Do you permit unrestricted access to and use of the material?
IF YOU ANSWER YES you allow:
- People to research the material and make notes about it
- People to have copies of the material for personal use
- The Library to make the material accessible online through its website
- People to have copies of the material for public use
IF YOU ANSWER NO:
You must complete Questions 6-9 and sign at Question 10.
Question 6. Do you permit people to research the material and makes notes about it while on the
Library’s premises or on loan in other libraries?
IF YOU ANSWER
(a) □ Yes
This means people can listen to a copy of the interview or read a transcript of the
interview in the Library or in another library, they can also make notes from your interview
for personal use
(b) □ Yes, but only if the Library has received my
permission on each request
This means the Library will contact you to seek your permission each time a request is
made to listen to a copy of the interview or read a transcript in the Library or in another
Library, allowing them to make notes from your interview for personal use
(c) □ Yes, but only after the following date or event
(e.g. ‘after my death’)
This means your interview will not be accessible until the date or event you specify
(following an internal review period)
Question 7. Do you permit people to have copies of the material for personal use?
IF YOU ANSWER
(a)
□ Yes
This means people can receive a copy of your interview for personal use
(b)
□ Yes, but only if the Library has received my permission on each request
This means the Library will contact you to seek your permission each time a request is
made for a copy of your interview for personal use
(c)
□ Yes, but only after the following date or event
(e.g. ‘after my death’)
This means copies of your interview will not be provided until the date or event you
specify (following an internal review period)
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Question 8. Do you permit the Library to provide access to the material on its website so that
people can listen to it, make notes about it or download a copy for personal use only?
NOTE: At present the Library does not give access to oral history recordings through its website.
However this facility will be developed in the near future. The Library will develop an End User Licence
Agreement so that people will be able to listen to your interview through the Library’s website only after
they have agreed to the legal requirements of that agreement.
IF YOU ANSWER
(a)
□ Yes
If answering yes here (which allows people to listen to, make notes about and obtain a
copy of your interview for personal use) ensure you have ticked Yes for Questions 6(a) &
7(a)
(b)
□ No
This means the Library will NOT make your interview available to listen to through its
website
(c)
□ Only after the following date or event
(e.g. ‘after my death’) The date or event must not be later than date/event stated in
Question 9c
This means the Library will NOT make your interview available to listen to through its
website until the date or event you specify
Question 9. Do you permit people to use the material publicly?
NOTE: People wishing to use the material publicly must seek permission from the Library and state how
they intend to use the material.
IF YOU ANSWER
(a)
□ Yes
This means people can use your interview in a public way (e.g. in publications, films,
transmissions, broadcasts and other public ways, including uses in online media)
(b)
□ Yes, but only if the Library has received my permission on each request
This means the Library will contact you to seek your permission each time a request is
made to use your interview in a public way (e.g. in publications, films, transmissions,
broadcasts and other public ways, including uses in online media)
(c)
□ Yes, but only after the following date or event
(e.g. ‘after my death’)
This means your interview will not be made available for public use until the date or event
you specify
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Signposts for Oral History: Recording equipment
When discussing the physical recording of stories there are a myriad of choices to be made
about ways to record the story and how to edit the story. Sally Hone, Curator of Research and
Discovery at the State Library of NSW, has kindly compiled a list of recommended equipment.
Digital sound recording equipment - background
Sound recording equipment has changed dramatically with digital technologies – and high
quality digital recording has now overtaken analogue recording. Furthermore, the cost of storing
large sized digital sound files is now affordable. The State Library of NSW now recommends
that all future oral history recordings made for the collection be made digitally.
Oral historians need digital sound recorders to be able to make high quality digital recordings in
line with current sound archival practice. It is also important to have good quality external
microphones to go with that equipment, and a set of good headphones to enable ‘critical’
listening of recordings.
The ‘high-end’ Sound Devices 722 digital sound recorder is the model used by the National
Library of Australia chosen for its robust build, excellent sound quality and built in hard drive
which is more reliable than using removable compact flash cards. High quality external
microphones are essential for good recordings, and the Rode microphones are a good choice
being Australian made copies of Sennheisser at a greatly lower price. The lower priced Zoom
recorders are also excellent recorders.
Digital field sound recorders
Zoom H4n
Stereo digital field recorder, that uses compact SD or high-capacity SDHC memory cards of up
to 32GB, and is capable of over 15 hours of recording time at 24-bit/96kHz resolution. Note: you
need to buy a stand for this.
Cost: approx $330
Suppliers: Sound Devices audio shop, Parramatta, or Turramurra Music, also available online
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
TASCAM DR100 MKII
The DR-100mkII from Tascam is portable stereo digital audio recorder designed with high-end
recording features aimed at musicians and engineers. Four built-in microphones, two cardioid
and two omnidirectional, deliver great sound via the high-gain and low-noise microphone
preamps. A pair of XLR inputs can accommodate external microphones and provide switchable
phantom power for use with condenser microphones.
The 24-bit/96kHz linear PCM recorder features dedicated stereo mini balanced line in and out
connectors in addition to an S/PDIF digital input. Also available is the ability to connect
balanced line inputs via the locking XLR connectors. An upgrade to the DR-100, an already
versatile unit, the rugged DR-100mkII extends the functionality of a professional portable
recorder while improving the overall sound.
Cost: approx $300+
Roland R-26 6-Channel Digital Field Audio Recorder
The R-26 6-Channel Digital Field Audio Recorder from Roland provides a wealth of flexibility
in a compact design, ideal for a variety of professional applications in music, filmmaking,
journalism, and more. The R-26 can simultaneously capture up to 6 tracks of audio as 3 stereo
pairs. The recorder offers 2 types of built-in stereo mics; one omnidirectional and one
directional. There are also 2 XLR/TRS combo inputs with 48V phantom power for external mics,
and a 3.5mm mic input for small stereo mics with plug-in power. The built-in mics can be used
in a variety of combinations alongside external mics for amazing recording versatility.
The R-26 captures high-quality WAV/BWF files at rates up to 24-bit/96kHz. It can also capture
MP3 files at rates up to 320kbps. Files are written to widely-available SD/SDHC flash memory
cards for convenience and stability. A high-speed USB port allows you to transfer your
recordings to a Mac or PC for convenient editing and sharing. SONAR LE software is included
for manipulating your audio on a Windows PC.
The R-26 has a large touchscreen LCD display for quick and intuitive navigation of menus,
customizing mic settings, editing waveforms, and more. There are also large input level control
knobs for making fine adjustments. The recorder can operate on 4 standard AA batteries, or via
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
the included AC adapter. An SD card, USB cable, and windscreen are also included so you can
start using the recorder right out of the box.
Cost: $500+
Sound Devices 722 Portable high resolution audio recorder
The two-channel 722, a powerful file-based digital audio recorder designed for high resolution
recording. It is compact and records and plays back audio to internal hard drive (making it highly
reliable), Compact Flash cards (optional), or external FireWire drives. It records and plays
uncompressed PCM audio at 16 or 24 bits with sample rates between 32 kHz and 192 kHz.
Cost: $3,080
Supplier: Only supplier in Sydney: John Barry
Microphones
2 x Rode NTG-1 lightweight condenser shotgun microphones. These are Australian made
copies of Sennheisser at a quarter of the price. The NTG-1 is $349 from Sound Devices or
Turramurra Music. Note: you have to buy cables to go with these – about $25 each; and
microphone stands - $20 to $30 each.
Cost: $660 (2 x $330)
Supplier: Several Sydney suppliers,
John Barry price $330
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Sennheiser make a range of microphones – up to $2,000. Recently the price has come down a
bit. In 2014 they have a new release – MKE 600 ‘professional shotgun microphone for video
journalists’ – they are around $400 (or less) and have very good sound.
Microphone and recorder stands
Microphone XLR cables
Digital audio editing software
Free software like Audacity could be good enough
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Even better software such as Wavelab Elements
WaveLab 7 for professional audio mastering, restoration
and editing $129.00 (approx)
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Earphones
Get good quality earphones in the range of $150 to $250. For example, Sennheiser HD-25-SP II
Closed Dynamic Headphones designed for monitoring, recording and outdoor applications.
Cost: $231 (Approx price, available from John Barry)
Carry cases
Heavy duty carry case for Sound Devices field recorder (eg Pelican brand) and other protective
cases cost approximately $100 - to $300. Shops such as Dragon Image
http://www.dragonimage.com.au/ have a good range of bags.
For further information about equipment see also:
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch) pp 29-62
http://www.oralhistorynsw.org.au/some-suggestions-for-digital-equipment-suitable-for-use-byoral-historians..html
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Analogue and Digital
The National Library provides an excellent explanation of why analogue recordings are
problematic and how to best to preserve these precious stories:
http://www.naa.gov.au/records-management/agency/preserve/physical-preservation/magneticmedia.aspx
A committee member of Oral History NSW, Andrew Host has kindly volunteered this
explanation of digital recording for our training day:
Digital sound recording: Theory and basics
Digitising works by taking sample of audio and recording in a moment in time the volume of the
sound.
The volume is recorded as a binary number – one or zero.
A combination of sampling frequency and sampling resolution determines the quality of the
recording.
Sampling Frequency is how often a sample is taken. All audio CDs are sampled 44,100 times
per second. The standard for most digital video formats and for oral history recordings is 48,000
times per second, also known as 48 Kilohertz (khz)
Sampling Resolution is how many different levels of volume can be recorded between silence
and maximum recording volume.
All audio CDs have a sampling resolution of 16 bit. This allows 65,535 different volume levels to
be recorded.
The standard for oral history recordings is 24 bit. This allows 16,777,215 different levels to be
recorded making a much more faithful rendering of the interviewee’s voice.
Pros and cons of file formats
File type
Pros
.WAV
Sampled at 48 kHZ, 24 bit
recommended for oral history
projects and required by the
State Library of NSW and
National Library for
contributions

MP3
Recommended as a backup
and distribution format, but
not recommended for long
term archiving.



Cons
Faithfully retains the
original recording quality
when editing and re-saving
Playable on most
computers made in the last
fifteen years

Uses much less storage
space than a .WAV file, up
to one-tenth the amount
with little quality loss
Playable on most
computers, portable
players, some DVD
players and some car
stereos


Relatively large amount of
storage required,
approximately one
gigabyte per hour of .WAV
sampled at
48 KHZ, 24 bit
Quality degrades EVERY
time you edit and re-save
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Sound Cards
The amount of data that can be stored per second varies from card to card and is defined by a
Class number, written on the card within an almost complete circle. Class 1 is the slowest with
Class 10 being the fastest.
Class 4 is considered the minimum required for sustained audio recording. If no class is
indicated on the card, then it is probably unsuitable for audio recording. Use only quality brands
such as Verbatim and Sandisk
YouTube www.youtube.com is a great resource to work out how to use your digital recorder
and using Audacity.
Storage and preservation
Storing Audio
Storing all your precious audio in one place is a guarantee that you will one day lose it. The only
way to ensure it lasts is make multiple copies, preferably on different media, preferably stored in
different locations.
CDs and DVDs
CDs store binary data with a series of pits and bumps that represent the zeroes and ones of
binary numbers. The pits are microscopic and are laid out in a spiral track starting at the inside
of the disc. On a recordable disc, the pits and bumps are replaced with a layer of organic dye
which changes from clear to opaque to simulate pits and bumps. The distance between spirals
on a CD is 1.6 thousandths of a millimetre, on a DVD 0.74 thousandths of a millimetre. The data
is read by a laser. There is extra data on a disc which allows a disc to be read even when it has
scratches and fingerprints on the surface - to a point. It is much better to prevent discs being
scratched and fingerprinted.
CDs and DVDs vary markedly in quality. It is best to buy a reputable brand such as Sony,
Verbatim, Maxell, or Taiyo Yuden. Most recordable discs use silver as a reflector, but for long
term stability, archive-grade gold discs should be used.
Excellent quality archive-grade gold discs are available from ProDisc – www.prodisc.com.au
Optimum burning speed for most CDs in most cases is 16x to 24x, for DVDs 4x to 8x.
For long term storage, CDs and DVDs should be formatted as data discs containing the 48 kHz,
24 bit WAV files. The resulting disc will not play on stand-alone CD and DVD players, but will
play only on computers. As an additional copy you can also create an audio CD which will play
back on computers as well as stand-alone CD and DVD players, but the audio CD have audio
at 44.1 kHz 16 bit, lower than the recommended settings.
CDs can store a maximum of 700 megabytes, which equates to about 43 minutes of audio
stored as a 48 kHz 24 bit WAV file.
A CD formatted as an audio CD will hold up to 80 minutes of audio, because an audio CD can
only be in the lower quality format of 44.1 kHz 16 bit.
A DVD can store 4. gigabytes of data, and so can store about 4. hours of audio stored as a 48
kHz 24 bit WAV file.
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Dual-layer DVDs, which can hold 8. gigabytes of data are not recommended because they are
considerably less reliable than single layer 4. gigabyte DVDs.
Storage longevity is determined by the quality of the initial recording onto the disc, the quality of
the disc itself, whether the reflector is gold or silver, and how the disc is stored. Dark, dry, stable
temperature and humidity are important.
Data storage comparison
Pros
Cons


Compatibility
Low price



Discs are fragile
Poor manufacturing short life span
Many new computers without CD or
DVD drive
Hard disc
drives



Convenient
Getting cheaper
Easy to copy on to another drive


Poor manufacturing short life span
Failure may occur with no warning
Flash
memory

Robust for handling, widely
compatible
Cheap

Small form make labeling difficult and
easy to lose
Short life span 5 - 10 years
Reputable Cloud Storage
providers use multiple servers
and hard drives to protect
against drive failure which helps
keep data safe
Data storage is available on any
internet connected computer,
tablet or smart phone

CDs
and
DVDs
USB/SD


cards
Cloud
Storage




Most Cloud storage providers have
ongoing fees
Data loss and hacking can occur
In Australia upload speeds slow
compared to download speeds – takes
time
Redundant formats
Storage formats become redundant quickly (e.g. floppy disks, Zip disks, data tapes).
To ensure longevity of stored audio and data, it should regularly be copied to whatever is the
current format.
For this reason, archived audio should be stored as uncompressed WAV files, preferably
sampled at 48 kHz with a resolution of 24 bit.
Compressed formats such as MP3 and AAC lose quality every time they are converted to
another compressed format.
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Signposts for Oral History: Interview technique
Prepare: research, pre-interview and compile questions
Questions:
The most important words in your kit for conducting an Oral History are: Who, What, When,
Where, Why?






Ask open ended questions.
Avoid questions where interviewer can say yes or no.
If you don’t understand something ask the interviewee to explain…If you don’t
understand there’s a high chance people listening won’t understand.
Don’t ask double barrelled questions. Don’t ask loaded or leading questions.
Make sure you listen to the interviewee and follow and prompt the story
Listen quietly with nods, frowns and smiles.
Oral history interviews with NSW Public Library staff
Sample questions and discussion guide
Introduction
This is (interviewer’s name) interviewing (interviewee’s name) at (location) on (date) for the 75 th
anniversary of the NSW Library Act oral history project.
What was your first job in a library? What library?
What kind of work did this job involve?
Options could include
Library assistant
Library monitor
Library officer/technician
Librarian
------------Shelving
Circulation work
Ordering books
Filing
Reference
Tell me about your library training and education?
Options could include
The Library School at the Public Library of NSW (1939 – 1950s)
Attend lectures leading to the registration examinations (Library Association of Australia)
– held in all state capitals and some regional centres (1950s – 1970, last registration
examination 1980)
TAFE - for a period in the 1970s TAFE offered a professional qualification
TAFE – technician qualification
University of NSW; University of Technology Sydney; Charles Sturt University; similar
What were the major influences on your work at the time?
Prompt
24
75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Council politics
Personality of the chief librarian
Local needs
Tell me about your career. Any highlights, other things that stand out?
Prompt
New library buildings
Library moves
Floods, fires, similar
Mobile libraries
Specific communities, e.g. migrant communities
Any impressions/memories/stories of the people you worked with?
Were you are a member of any groups/committees/professional associations?
Prompt
Library Association of Australia/Australian Library and Information Association
Country Public Libraries Association
Metropolitan Chiefs
Association of Local Government Librarians
Australian Libraries Promotion Council
Public Libraries Consultative Committee
Local history group
Local action/progress group
Trade union
What did this group do and how were you involved?
Looking back, what are the significant changes in libraries over the time-frame of your
working life?
Any other comments?
For more information about interviewing technique see:
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch) p.p 63 - 72
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Signposts for Oral History: Sharing stories
How to share your stories: Transcriptions, summaries, logging, data file
Data summary
To donate your oral history to the State Library, you will need to provide some data about the
recording. Sally Hone, Curator of Research and Discovery at the State Library of NSW, has
provided a data summary worksheet template that must be completed.
See Form 3: Data summary worksheet template and
Form 4: Data summary worksheet example
Transcription and summaries
Oral history transcriptions can be costly and time consuming.
For transcriptions, charges range from $1 to $4 per minute with online companies. For
example, an online company called Rev charges about $1 a minute
https://www.rev.com/?gclid=CKb07YXoxMACFYeXvQodzqkAOg
Personal transcribers offer an excellent service, but a skilled professional transcriber will take
about three hours to transcribe one hour of audio. They can charge about $35 per hour.
Alternatively, volunteers can help transcribe audio.
You can download or purchase transcription or voice recognition software. With transcription
software you can control the audio playback using a foot pedal or keys on your keyboard as you
type. An example of transcription software is Express Scribe http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/
Voice recognition is an alternative to typing on a keyboard. Put simply, you play the audio and
words appear on the screen. An example of voice recognition software is Dragon Naturally
Speaking http://australia.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm
Rather than a word for word transcription, you can write an interview summary. This is a short
summary of key topics, and might include timings and key words or phrases. This is useful for
researchers or people who are looking for specific topics within an interview.
The State Library of NSW does not require a transcription or summary of an oral history
recording.
For an example of an interview summary log see
Form 5: Summary log template
Form 6: Summary log example
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Form 5: Summary log template
Name of project: Eg 75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939
Collection number:
INTERVIEW SUMMARY
NAME OF INTERVIEWEE:
NAME OF INTERVIEWER:
DATE OF INTERVIEW:
PLACE OFINTERVIEW:
TOTAL time of interview:
Time
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
Key words
Use this
format:
00:00:00
Eg
01:44:22
is one
hour, 44
minutes
and 22
seconds
Summarise content, not verbatim, always use
third person
Eg names, places, themes
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Form 6: Summary log example
ISLAM IN NSW
INTERVIEW SUMMARY
NAME OF INTERVIEWEE: Dia Mohammed
NAME OF INTERVIEWER: Louise Darmody
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 14/8/2013
TOTAL time of interview: 45m 45s
MLOH 725 NO.
Time
00:00:37
00:02:20
00:03:11
00:01:12
00:05:38
00:07:10
00:08:10
00:09:22
00:10:23
00:12:00
00:13:15
00:13:55
00:15:40
Content summary
Born in Sydney, Australia on 22/11/81.
Parents migrated from Egypt in early 70s.
Father lived in Brazil for 5 years. He came first
and brought out his mother. Grandfather was a
journalist.
Parents from Cairo.
Earliest memory of Islamic faith was at schoolEast Hills PS where he realized he was
different which was not a problem for him.
His home was a bit stricter than others. He
spoke to his parents in Arabic. Observed
Ramadan.
Moslem children’s parties were completely
different to Christian school friends’ partiesmuch bigger, lots of food, held at night, whole
families took part
Played cricket and soccer at school
Not discriminated against except for one
sarcastic teacher
Religion always important within the family.
Parents prayed, no alcohol, visited mosque,
mother started wearing hajib in her late 40s
In grade 6 developed a passion for basketball.
In High school some teachers were inspiring.
Lot more ethnicities. When brother attended 3
years earlier only 4 ethnics, when Dia got there
they were in the hundreds.
Brother faced problems of racism which Dia
didn’t
Oldest brother b. 1975, youngest brother b.
1985- no problems in school.
Didn’t do well at school because played
basketball. Did Commerce at uni but left
Key words
Egypt
Primary school
Arabic
language,Ramadan
Childrens’ parties differences
School sport
No discrimination
relgion
basketball
Growth of ethnicities
racism
brothers
School, uni
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
00:15:50
00:17:00
00:18:00
00:20:20
00:21:15
00:22:04
00:28:25
00:28:55
00:30:00
00:32:05
00:33:22
00:35:10
00:36:40
00:37:48
First job at 14 at Dominos pizza, then Hifi shop
and followed parents to Telstra for 3 years. No
discrimination
Always followed the tenets of Islam
Travelled to US to watch basketball then Egypt
which was wonderful. Saw family. Tried to get
back once a year but didn’t connect
consciously to the faith until 2002
9/11 didn’t affect him personally but thinks it
was a lesson to be pro-active rather than
reactive.
Impressions of media in confronting times.
Muslims blame the media for everything, he
thinks the media has a job to do and it’s a cop
out to blame it.
Went to haj in 2003. Thought he was getting
old (at 22) Married at 24 to a practicing
Moslem. Son Omar born 2006. Brought up in
the faith. Split up
Arab Spring hasn’t had a personal impact.
Relatives in Egypt ore OK
Went from Telstra to Mazda to Hyundi and in
2011 established organization called Marpeak
because realized there was a need to market
Islam and be pro- active in teaching about
Islam
Billboard stating “Jesus – a prophet of Islam” at
Roseville caused a furore particularly among
Catholics.
Billboard controversy led to public forums and
debates between Christians and Moslems
Difference between Sunni and Shi’ite – not too
bad in Australia.
Sharia Law
Women have many rights in Islam
Men are obliged to pray in a mosque, women
aren’t which explains why the men’s section is
so much bigger.
Jobs – no
discrimination.
Islam
Egypt Islam
9/11
Media and Moslems
Haj
Moslem
Arab Spring
Marketing Islam
Billboard
Christians-Muslim
debates
Sunni cf Shi’ite
Sharia Law
Women’s rights
mosque
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
00:39:30
00:39:44
00:41:40
00:42:25
00:43:50
00:45:00
00:45:12
00:45:30
00:45:40
Pakistan’s forbidding girls access to school is
not Islamic but cultural
Islam promotes education more than any faith
in the world for men and women
Problems with established communities and
incoming immigrants
Australia’s changing for the worst. Too fast
Islamic schools have tripled in last 16 years
Little difference between mainstream
community and Muslim community except
there is an element of fear among Australians
Outlook is good for Moslem community in
Australia
Advises that one should speak to the right
people re Islam
End of Recording
Pakistan
education
immigrants
Islamic schools
Difference between
two communities
Moslem community
30
75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Outlets for sharing
Libraries, school, town newspapers, television, radio stations – (community and public)
community groups (target particular interest groups like Oral History NSW, Historical Societies)
Tools for delivery
Websites, social media, newspapers, pamphlets, posters, meetings, walking tours
Websites featuring Oral Histories
http://www.oralhistorynsw.org.au/examples-of-websites-featuring-oral-histories.html
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch) pp 85-90
University of California at L.A. for an excellent family history sample outline and questions
http://oralhistory.library.ucla.edu/familyHistory.html
1,001 Life Story Questions by Bob Mitchell:
http://www.memoryman.com.au/public-courses.htm
Australian Federation of Family History Organisations Inc. http://www.affho.org/
Talking History – Oral History Guidelines – NSW Department of Environment
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/conservation/TalkingHistoryOralHistoryGuidelines.htm
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
What happens next?
How to donate your oral history to the State Library of NSW
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








Follow the guidelines for best practice in this information pack.
Research and prepare for the interview.
Use good quality recording equipment.
Record your interview in .WAV format and at 48kHZ, 24 bit.
Make sure you know how to use your equipment – test, test, test!
Complete the rights agreement form. The State Library and your library have full rights
to the oral history.
Complete the data summary worksheet.
Make sure that you store your recording in more than one place.
You do not have to complete a transcription or summary of the interview, but you can if
you want to.
Copy your recording as .WAV file onto a USB stick or portable hard drive and send,
along with the rights agreement form and data summary worksheet, to:
Edwina Duffy
Project Officer, Public Library Services
State Library of NSW
Macquarie St
Sydney NSW
2000



We would love it if you can complete your oral history interview and send it to the State
Library by 31 November 2014.
Your oral history will become part of a commemorative 75th anniversary of the Library
Act 1939 oral history collection at the State Library.
We will share your oral history on our 75th anniversary of the Library Act blog
www.libraryact75th.tumblr.com
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Interview checklist
Before the interview:
 Check and obtain copies of previous interviews with, and other information about, the
interviewee
 Contact and speak to interviewee about their participation
 Send a letter of introduction to the interviewee (Robertson, pp.9-10)
 Do a background research on the interview topic, and think about questions to ask
 Agree and confirm date, time and place of the interview, making sure the location is
suitable
 Ensure your familiarity with the recording equipment, and test the equipment
Take to the interview:








The recording equipment
Batteries and/or extension lead
Empty Compact Flash, SD or SDHC digital cards
List of topics
Pen and paper
Camera (if appropriate)
Permission to use/conditions of use document (Robertson, pp.14-20)
A cake or bun to share!
At the interview:
Before starting the interview:
 Check the recording equipment, including recording levels
 Record introduction/recording identification (interviewee’s name, your name, date,
location, purpose of interview)
At the end of the interview:




Check spelling of proper names
Ensure interviewee knows what happens next
Ensure permission to use form has been signed by the interviewee
Spend time with interviewee
Immediately after the interview:
 Download digital recordings, label and store safely
 Write Interview Summary and/or log as soon as possible (Robertson, pp.74-78)
 Thank you letter to interviewee and, if appropriate, copies of recording etc.
Oral History Handbook, Fifth Edition, Adelaide, Oral History Association of Australia Robertson, Beth. (South Australian Branch)
33
75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries
Help!
If you need any further help, please contact
Edwina Duffy
Project Officer, Public Library Services
State Library of NSW
edwina.duffy@sl.nsw.gov.au
(02) 9273 1526
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75th Anniversary of the NSW Library Act 1939 Oral History Project: Information for Libraries