The nyu libraries have a proven track record of acquiring, processing, and preserving collections of historical materials in t

The NYU Libraries have a proven track record of acquiring, processing, and preserving collections of historical materials in the arts to make them accessible to scholars, students, artists, and the public. The Libraries have received and successfully administered numerous grants for preservation.The Fales Library in particular has successfully completed a joint preservation project with The Estate Project for Artists with AIDS to preserve the video and film work of the artist David Wojnarowicz. This project resulted in the cataloging of the collection, creation of archival negatives, work prints, and video viewing copies. As a result, Wojnarowicz's films have been shown in London and Toronto following the completion of the project. Further, the Fales Library has a strong record of collaboration with artists and art venues both in New York and across the country. In recent years we have co-organized exhibitions with the New Museum, Gracie Mansion Gallery, PPOW Gallery, and loaned materials to exhibitions at the Barbican Gallery, London; San Francisco, MOMA; and The New York Public Library. With organizations like Artforum and Grove Press we have co-sponsored events. Our own gallery programs three exhibitions each year forcusing on literature and the visual arts. And we have planned major international symposia on such artists and writers as David Wojnarowicz, Dennis Cooper, and, in the fall of 2002, Kathy Acker. The Wojnarowicz and Cooper exhibitions and programs received broad media coverage, helping to raise awareness of these artists works to a broad audience. Last year, for example, over 2,400 people attended events at the Fales Library that promoted the arts.

This is a perfect time for NYU to undertake this project. NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, through its world-renowned Cinema Studies Program, will initiate a Master's program in Moving Image Archiving and Preservation (MIAP) beginning in fall 2003. The MIAP program, directed by Dr. Howard Besser, will provide students with the academic study and professional training necessary to take leadership roles in the field of film, video, and moving image archiving and preservation. Drawing on the vast resources of New York City and the University, the MIAP curriculum will cover all aspects of moving image archiving. In addition to Dr. Besser, the program will hire a preservation specialist with expertise in moving image preservation. The Fales Library has just hired Ann Butler as the Fales Archivist. Ms. Butler is very active in the video preservation community. Finally, NYU is in the planning stages of an offsite facility for storage of collections that will include state-of-the-art space for moving image materials.The combined knowledge of these professionals and the new space will ensure the success of this project.