Preservation Organizations

Preservation Consortiums:

The Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA): www.amianet.org: The Association of Moving Image Archivists focuses on archiving through acquisition, preservation, and exhibition. It offers workshops, publications, and meetings to promote preservation activities and to educate the public. The AMIA web site also includes a useful Video Preservation Fact Sheet.
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC): http://aic.stanford.edu/: is a national membership organization of conservation professionals dedicated to preserving artistic and historic artifacts. In 2002, AIC devoted Volume 40, No. 3, of their journal to the issue of installation art preservation. Titled “TechArcheology: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation,” the publication can be ordered online.
Association of Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC): www.arsc-audio.org: The ARSC is an international organization dedicated to all aspects of recorded sound. It holds conferences, publishes findings, and provides grants and awards to help developing and disseminate information in the field of sound media. A reprint of the 1959 Library of Congress document Preservation and Storage of Sound Recordings is available for purchase through their site.
Electronic Media Specialty Group (EMG): aic.stanford.edu/conspec/emg: EMG is a specialty group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). EMG’s mission is twofold: to preserve electronic art and electronic-based cultural materials, and to serve as a means for conservators to develop and maintain relevant knowledge. Abstracts and transcripts of meetings are posted on the site. The EMG resource page links to different sites, mailing lists, and listservs. The most pertinent listserv is IMAGELIB, geared toward people involved with libraries of images. Much of the material involves digital imaging and related topics, and there is an extensive links page. To subscribe, e-mail imagelib@listserv.arizona.edu. EMG also hosts a format guide, found at www.paulmessier.com/videoid/.
Independent Media Arts Preservation (IMAP): www.imappreserve.org: Independent Media Arts Preservation is a service, education, and advocacy organization committed to the preservation of noncommercial electronic media. IMAP serves as the hub of its diverse constituents, who approach media arts from varied perspectives and professions. IMAP’s online Cataloging Template and Tutorial is a standards-based tool for individuals who lack professional training in archival management or information science.
National Archives and Records Administration: www.archives.gov/preservation: The National Archives and Records Administration is charged with providing access to documents on the rights of American citizens, the actions of federal officials, and “the national experience.” Although only a small section of this site is devoted to audio/video preservation, general preservation information, such as a format guide and storage guidelines, is included.
National Center for Film and Video Preservation at the American Film Institute: http://www.afi.com/about/preservation/preservation.aspx: Established by AFI and the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Center for Film and Video Preservation aims to function as a center for American moving-image preservation. Its goals include, but are not limited to, the implementation of a National Moving Image Database (NAMID), the acquisition of films and television programs for the AFI collection at the Library of Congress, and public education on preservation issues. The AFI Silent Film Database should be available on the site shortly.
National Film Preservation Foundation: www.filmpreservation.org: Dedicated to the survival, conservation, and public availability of American films, the Foundation’s site includes information on grants, basic film preservation, and a searchable database of archives from around the country as well as the Foundation’s database of more than 600 films (searchable by title, date, program, or archive). The section called Preservation & Storage Practices includes a brief description of the treatment of film decay.
The National Television and Video Preservation Foundation (NTVPF): www.ntvpf.tv: The NTVPF is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to the preservation of and access to television and video projects in the United States.
Society of American Archivists (SAA): www.archivists.org: The Society of American Archivists is the largest professional archival association in North America. Its site includes links to various roundtables that they host (including one on Recorded Sound and one on Visual Materials Cataloging & Access). The SAA also has a number of listservs on preservation and managing electronic records.

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