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Abstract

This article examines the barriers that limit access to video art online and offers practical solutions and suggestions to aid librarians in the search for digital video art resources. Videotape is essentially an obsolete technology, a fact that dramatically slows down digitization efforts. Furthermore, in support of the protection of artist’s rights, access to video art is often controlled by third party distributors. While distributors are crucial champions of the medium, issues of copyright complicate discussions of online access. Opportunistic art lovers have taken matters into their own hands, uploading work to online platforms and creating new liminal spaces of access. This article offers an understanding of video recording technology, the historical development and dissemination of video art, and the problematic nature of many online resources that provide access to these culturally valuable works. [This article is a revision of a paper presented during the 49th annual ARLIS/NA conference held virtually May 11–13, 2021.]