The main purpose of the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive is to locate, preserve and provide access to moving images reflecting Scottish 20th and 21st century culture and history. In addition the Archive collects a wide range of written and photographic materials relating to the development of cinema exhibition and film production in Scotland over the past 100 years. The Archive was originally premised in
Hillington with limited facilities, however it relocated in 2016 to the Library's new public centre for digital and moving image collections at Glasgow's
Kelvin Hall. Principally non-fiction, the Archive's collection to date includes more than 46,000 items comprising documentary, newsreel, shorts, educational, advertising and promotional films, amateur and professional productions. The material is largely on 16mm and 35mm, with smaller collections of 9.5mm and 8mm film and videotape. The collection has been built up largely through donations from all sectors of the community, industry, broadcasting organisations, local authorities and members of the public, with a nucleus of material acquired from the former Scottish Central Film Library and Films of Scotland Committee. The strengths of the collection lie in its ability to illustrate local community life, industrial history and the changing nature of leisure. It reflects ways in which Scotland and its people have been portrayed in film since 1896, both by indigenous and visiting filmmakers and more recently the broadcasting sector and the
Scottish film industry. The television material in the Archive includes
Gaelic language broadcast production from 1993 onwards, the acquisition of which is funded by
Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gaidhlig (GMS). Preservation is the primary function of the archive. Purpose-built film and video vaults ensure that original masters are correctly stored and protected. The Archive is a member of
The International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), the International Federation of Television Archives (FIAT), and is a founding member of the UK
Film Archive Forum. The Archive is also a participating member of the
Scottish Archive Network (SCAN). ==See also==