However, it is worth mentioning the use of multiple copies as another strategy for preventing loss of information. Recorded information can be lost because the medium on which it is recorded has deteriorated to the point of being unplayable. Both types of loss can be prevented by maintaining more than one copy of the information and storing all copies in separate locations. If funds are available, it is preferable to maintain both access storage and archival storage of important information. As the names imply, the access environment keeps the recording readily available for playback.
Archive storage involves a separate environment designed to maximize the longevity of the tape.
Storage Conditions and Standards for a more detailed discussion of these storage conditions. The quality of care a magnetic tape receives should be commensurate with the perceived value of the information contained on the tape. Tape Costs and Longevity for more information. In reality, a library or archive may not have the budget, the personnel, the time, or the space to maintain two copies of all of the recordings in a video or audio tape collection. In this case, the value and use requirements of individual tapes in the collection should be assessed and prioritized.