Business screen magazine (1944)

Operation of a Service Command Central Film Librar] by Captain William C. Raike Officer-in-Charge Seventh Service Command Central Film Library Omaha Nebraska fCT ET NO MILITARY unit claim its I J training has been delayed for lack ol trailing aids." That can well be the slogan of any film library and particularly a Service Command Central Film Library, whose responsibility is to insure that the training film needs of all military training units in the command are fully and completely met. A Service Command Central Film Library is the control and supply agency between the Signal Corps Photographic Center in New York, and the film libraries established at designated military posts, camps and stations within each command. Its functions are many and varied, consisting primarily of the distribution of training films and projection equipment within the command, and the establishment of "post film libraries." These post film libraries are established at stations where a rapid and intensive training program is being carried on, and the ready accessibility of training films and equipment is a necessity for the complete fulfillment of the training program. A .Si'rvifi' i'ttiiiinanfl Central Film Library has an average of 20 or 30 of these post film libraries under its control. In addition to the responsibility of maintaining the film stocks of the post film libraries, the Service Command Central Film Library is responsible for the training film and projection needs of all other units within the command no matter how large or small those units may be. In order to carry out these various responsibilities, the Central Film Library maintains a sufficient stock of training films, film strips, projection equipment, and the necessary maintenance supplies for th" opcratitm of the post film libraries, and acts in itself as a loan agency to all other military installations in the command, including Navy and Marine units, civilian agencies, and other agencies of the government other tli.in the War Department. Tho op<>ration of the Central Film Library is the responsibility of the Service Command Signal Officer, and directly in charge of the library is an officer designated as the Service Command Visual Aids Coordinator. The post film libraries are also operated by a \'isual Aids Coordinator, who is either an officer or a ci\ilian film distribution specialist. It is the duty ot the coordinators to assume the responsibility for the distribution and exhibition of all training films and film strips on hand, as well as the dissemination of information to all installations served by the library. This is accomplished in part by the utilization of the preview theater. Through instructor training, all military personnel utilizing War Department films have come to realize the value of previewing films prior to use in the training of troops. It has become standard practice for the Central Film Library to maintain a scheduled preview of new films as they are received in the library. Interested personnel are invited to attend these showings. The preview theater is also greatly utilized by instructors in preparing lectures integrated with training films and film strips. The preview theater is a key point and a busy place at each film library. In order to better understand the operation of a Central Film Library, let us enumerate the many types of visual aids distributed through the Army Pictorial Service's Central Film Library system. First, and of the greatest amount of importance and activity, is the training film. Such films have been produced on subjects ranging from basic military drill to the operation of the most complicated radar sets. For the most part the prints distributed are in the 16mm width. With the exception of sever.il films on camouflage and related subjects, the majority ot these films arc produced in black and white. Second, and ol equal importance in the training program, is the film strip which is produced in both silent and sound (record accompaniment;. Because film strips arc more effective for teaching on the company level, film strips ma be retained permanently by the small unit' Many film strips have reference notes as . teaching aid to the instructor. Copies of thcM notes are similarly distributed with the filu strip. A third important training aid is the recog nition film slide, a 2" -x 2" slide for use in basic training counses. Airplanes, armored vehicles and naval vessels are included in these sets. Ii' will be seen from the variety of activides thai; the Central Film Library distributes a grean number of War Department training aids and i: thus a focal point in the training program. Films arc tlisiributcti from a Central Film Library by three methods — permanently] on loan and on circuit. Films are furnished on a permanent basis to the post film libraries only. Initial distribudon of films for the post film Hbraries is determined by the Central Film Li-! brary from information furnished by the Signal Corps Photographic Center in an Advancv FiliriJ Xotification. Prints are furnished those libraries for pennanent stock, where a specified training, course is conducted and it is anticipated that | the particular film will be of value in the train j ing program. The film is placed in stock and allowed to remain until the specialized training ; has ceased. The print then reverts back to the | stock of the Central Film Library at the Service ; Command Headquarters. Any film not required tor extended use at a station, and at stations where training film libraries are not authorized, are furnished on a spot booking basis for a short loan period from the Central Film Library. Where the shov\ing of a \Var Department film is either mandator\' for all military personnel or may be more economically distributed with a limited number of prints, such as certain morale and incentive films, the circuit booking basis is used within the command. Notification of such bookings is furnished each station in advance of the showing \Turn to paiie 88] 58 BUSINESS SCREEN MAGAZINE