National Library of Australia - Gateways>

ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 46 | August 2000


Film service a unique national resource

The National Library has provided a free film lending library to approved borrowers since 1946. Fifty-five years on and today’s film enthusiasts can still borrow items from the National Film and Video Lending Service (NFVLS). The collection has evolved to include feature films, short fiction, animation, silent cinema, experimental works, documentaries, ethnographic films and episodes of television series on a selection of formats including 16 millimetre film, VHS and Umatic video cassettes and laser discs.

Now based in Melbourne and managed by Cinemedia, NFVLS staff and the National Library are committed to working together to ensure that this unique national resource continues to flourish into the twenty-first century. The focus over the next three years will be on collection development and client services.

Acquisition staff will continue to strengthen existing relationships with rights holders while forging new alliances and partnerships with distributors and film-makers to ensure that the collection continues to grow and reflect current trends in screen studies and film-making. Time will also be spent exploring new formats for inclusion in the collection to ensure its longevity and relevance.

Staff will continue to strive to improve the clients’ experience of using the service, regardless of whether they visit Cinemedia in person or remotely via telephone, fax or the Internet. Cinemedia’s Park Street, South Melbourne premises are open to the public weekdays from 10 am until 6 pm and our telephones are staffed from 9 am until 6 pm every weekday. Clients are also welcome to visit and browse the catalogue or view material on-site. The online catalogue continues to grow and is to be updated every week to include new material with synopses and subject headings for titles.

We welcome feedback from clients to ensure that the service continues to plan for and meet the needs of our client base. Please feel free to contact staff at Cinemedia with your queries and ideas on (03) 9929 7044 or visit the web site at www.cinemedia.net for more information.
Elizabeth Bernard

Cinemedia National Collection Administrator

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