Film library

Film library (from the English film - film and Greek. Θήκη - storage; by analogy with the library ) - a department of a film-making or film distribution company or organization, as well as a special institution designed to collect and store films and related materials (negatives, positives, phonograms, etc.), as well as related documentation (storyboards, installation sheets, scripts, critical and analytical publications, photographs, etc.). Film libraries are also called private home-made film collections.

At a time when the only form of storing films was film, the duty of film libraries was to organize, restore and preserve film productions. The films at the disposal of film libraries underwent a special preservation treatment (at least disinfection and disinsection) to protect them from damage, and were placed in special film storages. To store such materials in film storages, a special temperature regime and air humidity were maintained. Film libraries also backed up films that could be destroyed or damaged. Some film libraries copied films on request.

The largest film libraries combine the function of storing films with scientific and educational work, performing the functions of research institutes. Many film libraries are members of the International Federation of Film Archives ( FIAF ), the purpose of which is the international exchange of significant works of cinema.

With the advent and widespread use of electronic media, film libraries have begun to transfer their funds to digital form, which allows a much simpler technology for copying and duplicating films. Special computer programs, such as All My Movies , can be used for convenient cataloging of film libraries.

The largest film libraries:

• State Film Fund of Russia ;
• French Cinematheque ;
• Japanese Cinematheque ;
• British Film Academy National Film Library ;
• Film Library of the US Museum of Modern Art .