Obtaining Copies of Audio and Moving Image Materials

Jump to: AUDIO DUPLICATION - FILM/ VIDEO DUPLICATION - CONGRESSIONAL FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
AUDIO TRANSFER RATES - VIDEO TRANSFER RATES

Audio and moving image materials in the collections of the Library of Congress can be reproduced only when all rights restrictions have been cleared. These may include donors, copyright holders, record companies, artists, radio networks, licensing organizations, unions, etc. The Motion Picture Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division (M/B/RS) requires anyone wishing to obtain copies to secure written authorization for the Library to make the reproductions from any and all rights holders. While M/B/RS Reference staff can usually be of some assistance in determining what permissions are required, the onus is on the researcher to obtain them.

After contacting M/B/RS reference staff to identify the specific items to be copied, footage and audio seekers will be referred to the Division's Public Services Office, which serves as the business arm of the M/B/RS Magnetic Recording Laboratory. In addition to other outreach services, the Public Services Office operates a fee- for-service operation for the duplication of audio and moving image materials.

AUDIO DUPLICATION

If you would like to obtain audio copies of material from the Library's collections, follow this procedure:

Contact the Recorded Sound Reference Center at Tel:(202)707-7833 or fax:(202)707-8464 to identify recorded material in the Library's collections. Recorded Sound Reference Center staff will advise you of any rights restrictions requiring written permission before the audio duplication can proceed, and will discuss audio formats available for duplication (i.e. audio cassette, DAT, open reel.) Refer to the AUDIO TRANSFER RATES and STOCK CHARGES schedule below to review audio formats and costs.
Your request will be forwarded to the Public Services Office, which will mail or fax you an ORDER FOR PHONODUPLICATION SERVICES form listing your order and the cost. Prepayment is required based on the cost estimate and the customer is liable for additional charges should any be incurred.
Complete the Order Form and return it along with your payment by check made out to Library of Congress, MBRS Division or money order in U.S. dollars and permissions document (if applicable) to the address below. (Rush requests should be sent via FedEx, DHL, UPS, or other courier.)

Library of Congress
Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
Public Services Office
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4690

(Note: International orders require prepayment by check drawn on a U.S. bank or International Money Order in U.S. dollars.)

Phonocopies are made only when the prepaid fee, signed order form, and permissions document(s) (if applicable) are received by the Public Services Office. The turn-around time for Standard Service is typically 4 to 6 weeks. Rush Service guarantees that your order will be completed within 7 working days. The turn-around time for either service begins when payment has been received.

Shipping costs must be paid by the customer. (If you have a Fedex, DHL, UPS, or other courier account, you may include your account number on the Order Form and waive the shipping charge noted in the cost estimate.)

If you have any questions specifically regarding this ordering procedure, please contact the Public Services Office at Tel:(202)707-5623 or Fax:(202)707-2371.

AUDIO TRANSFER RATES

Effective April 1, 2002

All audio copies are made in the Library's Recording Laboratory. Hourly rates are as follows.

Audio Recording and Duplication Rate: (stock is additional)	$109.00/hr
Rush Duplication Surcharge	$75.00/hr
Minimum Charge: 15 minutes (with 15 minute increments thereafter)	$27.25
Simultaneous Cassette Dubs	$8/hr (plus tape stock)
CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) based on 1 hr 15 min per hr	$125.00/hr

STOCK CHARGES

10-inch open reel	$17.00
7-inch open reel	$5.50
R-DAT Cassette (120-minutes)	$5.50
R-DAT Cassette (60-minutes)	$4.50
R-DAT Cassette (30-minutes)	$4.00
C-90 Cassette	$1.50
C-60 Cassette	$1.00
C-30 Cassette	$1.00
3/4" Digital (75 minutes)	$36.00
3/4" Digital (60 minutes)	$25.00
CD Recordable	$1.50
Magnetic Optical Disk (2 hours @24 bits)	$88.00

Ordinarily, ten 78rpm sides or one LP can be copied in an hour. Special recording services are arranged through the Public Services Office.

FILM AND VIDEO DUPLICATION

The Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division is often asked to provide stock shots for use in film and video productions. As an archive, we are primarily concerned with preserving our motion picture and television collections and making them available for serious research on our own premises. We may be able to provide copies of some items in our collections but only if copyright, preservation or donor restrictions allow.

We do not maintain a list of copyright-free material. Most of our moving image collection consists of complete productions protected by copyright. While the term of copyright varies depending on the facts of registration and renewal, films can be protected from 1923 to the present. Researchers may view copyrighted films at the Library to identify scenes of interest, but the copyright owner is usually the appropriate source for obtaining duplicate footage. Records of ownership are in the Copyright Office. For information regarding copyright searches, contact the following:

Guidelines for Requests to Copy Film and Videotape

Items are only available for duplication if already protected by archival masters which have been passed as satisfactory by the Library's Quality Control Specialists. Users requesting access to unprotected items must be prepared to meet all costs involved in the making of preservation masters for the Library in order to obtain the copies they are requesting.
Films that are no longer within the prescribed term of copyright, i.e., 95 years from the original date of registration, or (if created after January 1, 1978) the life of the author plus 50 years, can be duplicated, except where there may be donor restrictions by terms of an instrument of gift. (The term of copyright was changed from 75 to 95 years in 1998. Films made prior to 1923 were "grandfather claused" and are no longer under copyright protection.)
Films whose publication dates fall within the copyright period as stated in paragraph two will need to have an official copyright search performed by the Copyright Office to determine their copyright status. It is important that a requestor ask for an assignment search and/or a search for the current copyright holder. A copy of the official search indicating "no copyright registration found" or "no renewal found" must be filed with the Public Services Office before an order can be processed.
Where a copyright owner is known, written permission will be necessary before a film can be copied.
Where motion pictures are concerned, the requestor should give careful consideration to the possible existence of underlying rights, i.e., a film based on a previously copyrighted book or play, or a film that might include a copyrighted work such as a song or a play. According to the General Counsel of the Copyright Office, "...searchers only report on the registration record of the motion picture. A search of the registration record of any underlying material included in the motion picture will only be made if it is specifically requested and if the underlying material is sufficiently identified."
Users should be aware that material deposited by claimants of copyright comprise the largest part of the film and television collection of the M/B/RS Division. In many cases, the copyright owner is the appropriate source for obtaining duplicated footage.
In addition to the copyright, many donors place restrictions on the use of the materials they give to the Library. Where such conditions exist, written permission will be required.
Duplication orders will be for an entire reel. No sections of a reel can be ordered.
Cost estimates are handled in turn as quickly as possible. However, lenghty orders require five to ten working days for evaluation and charges.
Users will be required to sign a Request to Copy Film and Videotape in LC Collections form stating the conditions governing duplication of the collections before an order can be processed.
All orders must be prepaid by check or money order, (International orders require payment via check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank or International money order). Purchase Orders will only be accepted from universities or federal agencies. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for completion of an order.
The user bears responsibility for materials and services ordered.

If you would like to make a request, Contact the Motion Picture and Television Public Services Office at Tel:(202) 707-5623 or Fax:(202)707-2371, or mail your written request to:

Library of Congress
Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
Motion Picture and Television Reference Desk
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4690

CONGRESSIONAL FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

Providing videotape copies of House and Senate floor proceedings for a fee to members of the U.S. Congress is an additional role of the Public Services Office. When not used for political or commercial purposes, congressional floor proceedings are made available to senators and congressmen as well as to the public.

Guidelines for Requests to Copy Congressional Floor Proceedings

Persons requesting copies of U.S. Senate and House floor proceedings must be prepared to sign an order form which states the material duplicated will not be used for political or commercial purposes.
Requestor is responsible for researching the information necessary to place an order, i.e., date of proceeding, beginning and ending times to be duplicated. The Congressional Record is the usual source for this material. Printed copies are available in major libraries and through THOMAS , an online public access system on the Internet.
There is a 30-minute minimum charge with 15-minute billing increments thereafter; cost is determined according to video format and duration of material to be duplicated. For each additional clip ordered, five minutes will be added to the total time.
Prepayment is required. The Standard Service turn-around time is four to six weeks from the date that payment is received. Rush Service guarantees that the order will be completed no later than seven working days from the date that payment is received.
The user bears responsibility for materials and services ordered. Tapes may not be returned for refund or exchange.

If you would like to obtain video copies of House and Senate proceedings, follow this procedure:

Contact the Motion Picture and Television Reference Desk at Tel:(202)707-8572 or Fax:(202)707-2371, or mail your written request to:

Library of Congress
Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
Motion Picture and Television Reference Desk
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4690

Please specify House or Senate, primary speaker(s), date(s), and exact time(s) to be duplicated.
Your request will be forwarded to the Public Services Office, which will mail or fax you a HOUSE or SENATE TAPE DUPLICATION REQUEST form listing your order and the cost. Cost varies depending on videotape format and duration to be copied. (Refer to the Videotape to Videotape Transfer Rates schedule to review the various formats and duplication costs.)
Complete the Order Form and return it along with your payment by check made out to Library of Congress, MBRS Division or money order in U.S. dollars to the address below. (Rush requests should be sent via FedEx, DHL, UPS, or other courier.)

Library of Congress
Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
Public Services Office
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4690

(Note: International orders require prepayment by check drawn on a U.S. bank or International Money Order in U.S. dollars.)

If you have any questions specifically regarding the ordering procedure, please contact the Public Services Office at Tel:(202)707-5623 or Fax:(202)707-2371.

VIDEOTAPE-TO-VIDEOTAPE TRANSFER RATES

Effective April 1, 2002.

30-minute mininum with 15-minute increments thereafter. Stock is included.

SETUP CHARGE PER ORDER and per master videotape format change: $20.00

TAPE CHANGES (no charge for first 3 reels; $6.50 per each additional reel)

Format	Standard Rate	Rush Rate
To Betacam-SP Videocassette--90 minutes	$187.50	$300.00
To Betacam-SP Videocassette--75 minutes	$160.25	$254.00
To Betacam-SP Videocassette--60 minutes	$124.50	$199.50
To Betacam-SP Videocassette--45 minutes	$97.25	$153.50

To Betacam-SP Videocassette--30 minutes	$64.50	$102.00

To VHS Videocassette--120 minutes	$223.00	$373.00
To VHS Videocassette--105 minutes	$195.75	$327.00
To VHS Videocassette--90 minutes	$168.50	$281.00
To VHS Videocassette--75 minutes	$141.25	$235.00
To VHS Videocassette--60 minutes	$113.00	$188.00
To VHS Videocassette--45 minutes	$85.75	$142.00
To VHS Videocassette--30 minutes	$57.50	$95.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--120 minutes	$254.00	$404.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--105 minutes	$226.75	$358.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--90 minutes	$199.50	$312.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--75 minutes	$172.25	$266.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--60 minutes	$128.00	$203.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--45 minutes	$100.75	$157.00
To DVCPRO Videocassette--30 minutes	$68.00	$105.50

To Digital Betacam Videocassette--120 minutes	$272.50	$404.00
To Digital Betacam Videocassette--105 minutes	$245.25	$376.50
To Digital Betacam Videocassette--90 minutes	$204.00	$316.50
To Digital Betacam Videocassette--75 minutes	$176.75	$270.50
To Digital Betacam Videocassette--60 minutes	$135.00	$210.00
To Digital Betacam Videocassette--45 minutes	$107.75	$164.00
To Digital Betacam Videocassette--30 minutes	$73.00	$110.50

To 3/4" U-Matic Videocassette--60 minutes	$121.00	$196.00
To 3/4" U-Matic Videocassette--45 minutes	$93.75	$150.00
To 3/4" U-Matic Videocassette--30 minutes	$63.00	$100.50

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April 28, 2008