Bibliography
American Cinematographer. 1920-present. Hollywood: American Society of Cinematographers
The self-proclaimed “international Journal of Film and Digital Production Techniques” contains both highly technical articles as well as ones of interest to the public and film historians.
This short page serves as a primer on videotape, covering such issues as composition, storage and handling, restoration, and playback devices. While very useful, it does not go into any great detail on any one topic.
While intended for cinematographers and others in film production, "the filmmaker's bible" contains extensive technical data on camera equipment and film stocks.
Offers several links to Web sites pertaining to the preservation and conservation of photographic media.
Introduction à la présevation des films et enregistremens sonores, avec étude de cas illustrée.
Commentaires des Archives nationales du Canada sur le but de la préservation des longs métrages et crédit d’impôt.
Présentation des laboratoires de préservation des archives audiovisuelles des Archives nationales du Canada.
Archives of Ontario. 2003. Sound and Moving Images. Toronto (Ontario): Archives of Ontario.
Introduction to the preservation of films and sound recordings with an illustrated case study.
“AATA Online is a comprehensive database of 100,000 abstracts of literature related to the preservation and conservation of material cultural heritage.”
Provides insight to the processes used by labs. Includes a glossary of video terms and definitions.
Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA). Film and Videotape Storage Standards and Guidelines.
Information on standards related to the storage and care of moving image materials.
Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA). Videotape Preservation Fact Sheets.
Written by a pioneer in the development of videotape, the AMIA Fact Sheets provide useful tips on how to extend the life of videotape.
Case study: the restoration of the film "Neighbours" by the Canadian Film Board.
Australian Network for Information on Cellulose Acetate (ANICA) -- Assessment Guidelines.
Bibliographic resources from ANICA, a group devoted to “sharing information and accessing resources about preserving cellulose acetate collections in Australia.”
"This annotated bibliography gives a list of sources of information related to cellulose acetate preservation that the National Library of Australia found useful during the Cellulose Acetate Project."
A thorough source of information about caring for cellulose acetate-based materials, which are ubiquitous in film and sound archives.
Bayens, Stuart. 2004. Film Preservation. Edmonton (Alberta): Edmonton Public Library.
Offers links to several film preservation Web sites.
Survol des techniques de préservation et restauration des films et bandes sonores. Étude de cas.
Article assessing the impact of digital and broadband technology on moving image production, distribution and preservation.
A landmark publication, “this report is a joint project of the Commission on Preservation and Access and the National Media Laboratory, developed within the Commission's Preservation Science Research initiative. The initiative encourages new techniques and technologies to manage chemical deterioration in library and archival collections and to extend their useful life.” Emphasis on storage and care of magnetic media.
Brownlow, Kevin, 1980. Silent films: what was the right speed? Sight and Sound 49:164-167.
Fascinating article on the always-perplexing issue of projection speeds for silent films, an era when projectionists mattered more than one might think.
“This document is a joint project of the Council on Library and Information Resources and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide information relating to CDs and DVDs.”
Illustrated tour of the preservation and restoration activities of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Archives.
Technical advice on the care and handling of video tapes.
Extensive “bibliographic resource for the conservation, preservation and restoration of cultural property.” In English and French.
Stresses the importance of film restoration. Case study using the classic Canadian feature, Bush Pilot.
While slightly out of date, this listing still provides useful information about key sources in the field.
Chute, David. Film Preservation at the (Digital) Crossroads.
Intended for non-technical audience, assesses what might happen to film distribution and preservation as we enter the digital era.
An amusing technical primer on “baking” tapes as preparation for their transfer: “The Dehydrator is perfect for tapes, bananas and sun-dried tomatoes.”
CLIR paper on the preservation of recorded folk collections.
Étude réalisée par le Groupe de travail sur la conservation des collections du Sous-comité des bibliothèques.
Conservation Administration News. 1979-1995. Austin: Preservation and Conservation Studies, University of Texas at Austin.
A newsletter aimed at library and archives conservation professionals.
Conservation OnLine (CoOL). Preservation of Audio Materials.
A Web page of interest to moving image archivists available through CoOL, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries to provide a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials.
Conservation OnLine (CoOL). Preservation of Motion Picture Film.
A Web page of interest to moving image archivists available through CoOL, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries to provide a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials.
Conservation OnLine (CoOL). Preservation of Video.
A Web page of interest to moving image archivists available through CoOL, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries to provide a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials.
Davidson, Steven, and Gregory Lukow, eds. 1997. Administration of TV Newsfilm and Videotape: A Curatorial Manual. Los Angeles and Miami: American Film Institute and Louis Wolfson II Media History Center.
Handbook focusing specifically on television news collections, but containing valuable information on 16mm collections in general. Available
in print from the Society of American Archivists.
Despas, Bruno. Conservation, restauration et valorisation du film d'entreprise. France: Centrimage.
Examen des différents supports physiques successivement utilisés pour le tournage et la diffusion des films industriels, des possibilités de restauration et du rôle du numérique.
Conseils relatifs à la présevation des enregistrements vidéo.
Conseils relatifs à la conservation des films.
Technical advice on the care and handling of films.
Technical advice on the care and handling of video tapes.
Étude réalisée dans le cadre de la Conférence internationale de la table ronde des archives.
Edmondson, Ray. 2004. Audiovisual Archiving: Philosophy and Principles. UNESCO.
"A revision of the Philosophy of Audiovisual Archiving published by UNESCO in 1998. This revised and renamed document reflects the changes that have occurred in the audiovisual archiving field, in the intervening period, ranging from the challenges of digitization and technological changes."
European Polymer Journal. 1965-present. Oxford; New York: Pergamon Press.
Journal serving as a “medium for the exchange of research in the area of macromolecular substances, both synthetic and natural, and publishes results bearing on the physics or chemistry of polymers. Papers may fall either into the category of original papers dealing with substances of high molecular weight, or that of review articles covering the literature on topical aspects of polymer science.”
Film Forever. The Home Film Preservation Guide.
Simple guidelines for preserving motion picture film materials outside of specialized archives, with a focus on storage at home.
Donne quelques descriptions et surtout des recommandations au sujet de trois types d’enregistrements : conservation des supports gravés (principaux supports et précautions de lecture), conservation des bandes magnétiques et conservation des disques compacts.
Gateway for Resources and Information on Preservation (GRIP)
“GRIP is a fully searchable database of information on preservation of the documentary heritage. It contains selected and annotated references to literature on preservation-related topics, links to Web sites, projects, organizations and discussion groups.”
Geller, S. B. 1983. Care and handling of computer magnetic storage media. NBS Special Publication 500-101. Washington, D.C.: Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, National Bureau of Standards.
Topics covered included proper care and handling methods under various conditions, long-term storage, maintenance programs, handling and environmental effects, and disaster response.
Historic 1980 UNESCO resolution noting the historic importance of moving images and urging that member states preserve these collections.
Politique québécoise du cinéma et de la production audiovisuelle du Gouvernement du Québec. Un paragraphe sur la préservation donne une idée de la position du Québec sur cette problématique.
Plan d'action permettant aux générations actuelles et futures de profiter des films, des bandes vidéo et des enregistrements sonores (des productions du passé mais aussi de celles à venir) qui sont conservés dans des centres d'archives à travers le Canada.
Définitions, recommandations et écueils potentiels dans la conservation des films.
Hall, Stephanie A. Preserving Sound Recordings.
Brief overview of sound preservation, provided by the Library of Congress' Save our Sounds project, an official project of the Save America's Treasures program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Hendriks, K.B., B. Thurgood, J. Iraci, B. Lesser and G. Hill. 1991. Fundamentals of Photograph Conservation: A Study Guide. Toronto and Ottawa: Lugus Publications, in cooperation with National Archives of Canada and Supply and Services Canada.
Comprehensive guide including laboratory experiments, processing, duplication and copying, conservation, chemical treatments, preservation and storage. Contains a wealth of practical information including procedures, materials and apparatus.
Heritage Resource Management Associates. 1998. An Audio Visual Archives Reader.
Exhaustive listing of audio-visual related journal articles, books and other written documents.
Extensive directory of preservation facilities, suppliers, associations, labs, services and much else.
Houston, Penelope. 1994. Keepers of the Frame: The Film Archives. London: British Film Institute.
History of the archive movement from a European perspective.
Bimonthly journal focusing on “areas of science and technology related to the basic physics of magnetism, magnetic materials, applied magnetics, and magnetic devices.”
Image Permanence Institute. Bibliography.
“Papers and articles, written by members of the IPI research staff on a variety of permanence issues”
Independent Media Arts Preservation. Preservation 101.
A primer on media preservation issues presented by IMAP, "a nonprofit service, education, and advocacy organization committed to the preservation of non-commercial electronic media."
Conseils relatifs à la conservation des bandes vidéo.
An online catalog of electronic and print information resources concerning preservation. In English and French.
Link leads to ordering Information.
“The Journal of Film Preservation is the Federation's main periodical publication in paper format. It offers a forum for both general and specialized discussion on all theoretical and technical aspects of moving image archival activities.”
Produced by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, “the pages of the Journal of Imaging Science and Technology provide the imaging community documentation of a broad range of research, development and applications in imaging. The selection of papers reflects the role of the Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T) as a window on imaging, promoting communication and understanding across the boundaries of the many disciplines involved in modern imaging. We focus on imaging in all its aspects, with particular emphasis on silver halide, digital printing, electronic imaging, photofinishing, image preservation, image assessment, pre-press technologies and hybrid imaging systems.”
Journal of Photographic Science. 1953-1996. London: Royal Photographic Society.
The Imaging Science Journal (formerly The Journal of Photographic Science) is "the official learned Journal of the Royal Photographic Society. It is concerned with research and development in all areas of imaging science and related disciplines and the Journal aims to maintain coverage of traditional areas of photographic science while attracting submissions and readers in the new technologies.”
Journal of the Audio Engineering Society. 1953-present. New York: Audio Engineering Society.
“Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, the official publication of the AES, is the only peer-reviewed journal devoted exclusively to audio technology. . . It contains state-of-the-art technical papers and engineering reports; features covering timely topics; pre and post reports of AES conventions and other society activities; news of AES sections around the world; standards and Education Committee work; membership, patents, new products, and newsworthy developments.”
The SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal “serves as a gateway to the world of motion imaging. Each issue provides the latest research and papers, ranging in style from technical, scientific, and tutorial, to applications/practices. As well, SMPTE Journal readers are kept up-to-date on events and meetings, the latest publications and brochures, and new products and developments.”
Reflects on the death-of-cinema debate, in part fueled by the disappearance of films due to negligence or nitrate decomposition.
Keyes, Daniel. 2001. Nitrate film. Kelowna (British Columbia): Okanagan University College.
Presents the challenges of preserving moving images on a nitrate support.
Kodak. Film Storage and Handling.
A detailed guide to proper film storage and handling.
Kodak. Motion Picture Film FAQ.
Answers to many questions about motion picture film, with an obvious focus on Kodak products.
Kromer, Reto. 2004. Conservation et restauration des films. Switzerland.
Bibliographie récente et exhaustive sur la conservation et restauration des films.
Kulka, Edward. 1995. Archival Enclosures: A Guide. Ottawa: Canadian Council of Archives
Includes chapter on machine-readable data carriers i.e., audio tapes, microforms, motion-picture films, and other photographic records. Covers production and suppliers, glossary and bibliography.
Partie du site du Laboratoire dont deux des missions sont l’analyse et la synthèse d’image et le génie informatique des systèmes à l’image. Les projets « Retouche » et « Limelight » sur la restauration numérique de données cinématographiques y sont expliqués.
A seminal report by the Librarian of Congress mandated by the National Film Preservation Act of 1992, "Film Preservation 1993 is a snapshot of film preservation as it is practiced today in the U.S. film industry and in public and nonprofit organizations."
"Redefining Film Preservation is an action plan to save America's motion picture heritage. Concluding a two-part process mandated by the National Film Preservation Act of 1992, it builds from the study Film Preservation 1993 and presents recommendations by the Librarian of Congress and the National Film Preservation Board. The plan integrates agreements by five working groups of archivists, educators, filmmakers, industry executives, and other participants in the earlier fact-finding study."
Library of Congress. 1997. Television and video preservation 1997.
Study to assess the state of American television and video preservation. "Key objectives of the report are to lay down a factual foundation for understanding the issues confronting the preservation of American television and video, and to recommend a national plan of action based upon a broad consensus of the archival community."
Library of Congress. Care, Handling, and Storage of Motion Picture Film.
Brief overview of handling and storage of nitrate, safety, color, and black & white film.
Library Preservation at Harvard "Care and Handling of Videotape"
Basic bibliography on handling videotape.
Article on the recent Disney/Pacific Title Cinetech restoration of the classic film “Nothing Sacred,” and the use of digital recombination techniques. Also contains an annotated list of film restoration labs.
Mc Greevey, Tom, and Joanne L. Yeck. 1997. Our Movie Heritage. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.
A non-technical narrative, "the book explains the basics of film preservation . . . with top archivists and film restoration experts expressing their concerns and hopes for the future of movies."
Donne une typologie assez complète des différents supports optiques depuis leurs inventions. Énumère ensuite les types de dégradations pouvant altérer la qualité du matériau. Propose enfin les mesures préventives à appliquer. Présence d’illustrations, de tableaux explicatifs et des normes en vigueur. Présence d’illustrations, de tableaux explicatifs et des normes en vigueur.
Moreau, Jean-Paul. 1995. La sélection et la préservation des documents vidéo. Archives 27(2).
Synthèse des tendances de l’archivistique actuelle relatives aux documents vidéo.
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Provides a brief answer to the question, “Should I convert my home movies to videotape?”
Addresses the issues of film preservation and policy. Argues for a film preservation tax credit.
Interview with Okajima Hisashi, Curator, National Film Center, Tokyo. Discusses digital technologies used in film preservation and restoration.
This book fills a long-stranding gap in the literature on film preservation by providing key technical information on the full range of topics written in easy-to-read language. Cataloging, access, and legal Issues are also discussed. The book is available in electronic and print form. The NFPF Web site contains a wealth of information on film preservation issues, such as deterioration, storage, color fading, and more.
Polymer Degradation and Stability. 1979-present. London: Applied Science Publishers.
“Polymer Degradation and Stability deals with the degradation reactions and their control which are a major preoccupation of practitioners of the many and diverse aspects of modern polymer technology.“
Profiri, Chris. 2003. Hollywood Film Preservation. Edmonton (Alberta): University of Alberta.
Explains the issues within film preservation and restoration.
Read, Paul, and Mark-Paul Meyer. 2000. Restoration of Motion Picture Film. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann
Invaluable guide to the film restoration process detailing film reconstruction, repair and laboratory duplication methods. Includes illustrative case studies as well as a comprehensive bibliography.
FAQ for the USENET newsgroup whose purpose is to facilitate the discussion of the many technical details associated with motion pictures. Topics often include questions about projection issues in theaters, film and sound formats and aspect ratios, equipment used in film production and presentation, and, occasionally, visual effects used in motion pictures.
Restaurator. 1969-present. Munich: K.G. Saur.
“The International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material” contains articles on conservation research and practical techniques used to preserve a wide range of materials.
Presents the Vinegar Syndrome, Rancid Butter Syndrome and the Rotten Fish Syndrome affecting various moving images supports and then offers solutions.
ScreenSound Australia. Film Preservation Handbook.
Exhaustive guide to the physical and technical aspects of film preservation.
ScreenSound Australia. How to Care for Your Audio.
Extremely useful preservation guide, providing excellent technical information understandable to the general public.
ScreenSound Australia. How to Care for Your Film.
Extremely useful preservation guide, providing excellent technical information understandable to the general public.
ScreenSound Australia. How to Care for Your Video.
Extremely useful preservation guide, providing excellent technical information understandable to the general public.
Silberg, Jon. October 2002. On the frontier, using new technology on old movies. Millimete.r
Technical article, though mostly understandable to a mainstream audience, focusing on new usage of digital techniques in film preservation, using case study of Sony and Cinetech’s recent restoration of "On the Waterfront." Also touches on videotape.
Slide, Anthony. 2000. Nitrate Won’t Wait: A History of Film Preservation in the United States. North Carolina: McFarland & Company.
Frank and illuminating account of the evolution of film preservation in the United States.
Link leads to ordering information. "An anthology published by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) to examine and to celebrate the life, the death, the afterlife, and the mythology of nitrate film."
Présentation des faits et des activités de la section des archives de la Société Radio-Canada touchant la préservation des films et vidéo.
Society of American Archivists Preservation Section. Selected Readings in Preservation.
Links to papers presented at a sympoisum held at the University of Texas at Austin, July 24-26, 2003.
Specs Bros. Videotape Basics FAQ.
Useful videotape FAQ list and links provided by SPECS Bros., "a magnetic tape decontamination and restoration facility that specializes in disaster recovery and the rejuvenation of archival tapes suffering from material breakdown."
Storm, William D. 1998. Unified Strategy for the Preservation of Audio and Video Materials, Report No. 9806. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Preservation Research & Testing Division.
This report commissioned by the Library of Congress reveals some of the strategic thinking and analysis underlying a long-term approach to preserving sound and moving image holdings.
Tepperman, Charles. 2000. Adventures in Archive-land. FSAC/ACEC Newsletter.
The author presents his personal experience at the Film Preservation section of the National Archives of Canada. The article is taken from the winter 2000 issue of the Film Studies Association of Canada newsletter.
The American Film Institute. Preservation.
The AFI sponsors the National Center for Film and Video Preservation, an advocacy and action organization. On this site can be found: basic information about film and video deterioration, including illustrative examples; a lengthy bibliography; a listing of film restoration laboratories; and links to other sources of preservation information.
The Cutting Corporation. Sound Preservation FAQ.
Informative guide to issues in sound preservation by one of the leading laboratories.
The journal of the Association of Moving Image Archivists, The Moving Image “deals with crucial issues surrounding the preservation and restoration of film, television, video, and digital moving images. The journal offers detailed profiles of moving image collections, behind-the-scenes looks at the techniques used to preserve and restore moving images, and theoretical and visionary articles on the future of the field."
“A biannual publication of the Photographic Materials Group (PMG) of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). It provides a means for the informal exchange of information, experiences and techniques relating to photographic science, conservation and collections care.”
Offers several links to Web sites in the field of preservation, including the preservation of moving images.
Wheeler, Jim. 2002. Videotape Preservation Handbook. Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA).
Similar to the AMIA Videotape Preservation Fact Sheets, this guide offers archivists insight into the basics of magnetic tape and its ongoing care.