National Film Library catalogue (1938)

Introduction the necessity for preserving and making available film records of historical and national value needs no commendation. As early as 1 9 1 1 The Bioscope* made a vigorous appeal for the establishment of a national film museum. In 1933 the Commission on Educational and Cultural Films explicity laid down the establishment of a national film library as being among the chief objects of the Film Institute, the creation of which it adumbrated in its report The Film in National Life. "The Film Institute", it was declared*j* "would maintain a library with multiple functions. Within the limits of what is technically and financially possible, it would preserve for record a copy of every film printed in England which had a possible documentary value; it would make available for study films of interest to students ; it would distribute films not available through the ordinary agencies; and it would maintain an up-to-date catalogue of films of cultural interest." The Governors of the British Film Institute recognised the importance of these recommendations and in July, 193 c, inaugurated the National Film Library. Its objects were defined as : — (a)To preserve for posterity films of national and historical value ; (b) To distribute films to schools and educational organisations. o Films have been acquired for the Library mainly by gift, and the National Film Library Committee would like to thank the donors and especially the members of the film trade, who have rarely refused to give copies of their current features. A few items amongst the early films have had to be bought out of the very slender grants which the Library receives, for only in this way could certain unique copies of important films have been preserved to posterity. * The Bioscope, April 13th, 19 1 1 , p.c. "j" The Tilm in National Life, Section 223. [«]