In 2019, the Archives was awarded funding from the Smithsonian National Collections Program’s (NCP) Collections Care and Preservation Fund to support the cataloging and rehousing of audiovisual media related to Smithsonian World.

Coming Soon! Our New Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative

We’re excited to announce a new Smithsonian initiative to support the preservation of Smithsonian audiovisual collections! 
April 13, 2021, by Alison Reppert Gerber

Many of you have seen our assessments over the last few years that brought to light the absolutely dire statistics regarding the potential loss of our audiovisual collections. In 2019, we determined that at the current rate of preservation, 188,890 audiovisual collection items around the Smithsonian will be unpreserved and face total loss by 2034. It would cost the Smithsonian over $40 million and take 28 new staff members to digitize all current collections within the next 15 years. Those are some overwhelming numbers, right? However, there is some exciting news on the horizon!  

Someone holds a wax cylinder up to the camera. Other objects are on a cart.

The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is thrilled to announce that we are planning a pan-institutional initiative to support the holistic care of audiovisual collections! The Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative (AVMPI) will be a centralized resource focused on treating, digitizing, and providing access to Smithsonian audiovisual collections. Fully equipped with seven new staff members, AVMPI will be supported by a task force of subject matter experts and an advisory committee. Together, we will work to address some of those staggering statistics and uncover never-before-seen collections across the Smithsonian!  

Rusting cans next to smaller, cleaner cans that house sound recordings.

For more information about the AVMPI Strategic Plan and overall goals, check out the initiative's new webpages. And in the meantime, indulge in some of our amazing collections by exploring these Smithsonian YouTube channels: 

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