The Library of Congress Solicits Assistance in Implementation of National Recording and Film Plan

The U.S. Congress created the National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB) through the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-474); the legislation was reauthorized in 2016 (PL114-217). The U.S. Congress created the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) through the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 (PL100-446); Congress most recently reauthorized the NFPB in 2016 (PL114-217). As part of Public Law 114-217, the United States Congress has mandated that the Library of Congress (the Library): 1) “implement a comprehensive national recording preservation program”, 2) “carry out the comprehensive national film preservation program for motion pictures established under the National Film Preservation Act” and 3) “review the comprehens- ive national film preservation plan, and amend it to the extent necessary.”

The resulting contract shall fulfill the above Congressional mandates by implementing selected recommendations found in the Nation- al Recorded Sound Preservation Plan and the National Film Preservation Plan.

The National Recorded Sound Preservation Plan published in February 2013 contains 32 recommendations (comprised of 84 separate action items) to implement, many of which are lengthy, time-consuming projects. The National Film Preservation Plan was published in 1994 and while much of that publication remains timely, portions need updating in response to technological and other changes since then. Additional related studies published by the Library–such as the December 2013 Survival of American Silent Feature Films: 1912-29–added additional recommendations and action items.

These Congressionally-mandated efforts far exceed the capacity of Library staff. The resulting contract will enable a contractor to per- form the work promptly and effectively in order to fulfill the two Congressional mandates: to implement the National Recording Pre- servation Plan and to continue implementation and updates to the National Film Preservation Plan, as required.

The resulting contract shall support seven separate tasks: 1) National Recording Registry Radio Programs, 2) Traveling Archivists/Ex- perts Program, 3) Stewardship of Indigenous Materials in Audio-Visual Preservation Archival Community, (4) Implementation of 2019 Local Television News Summit recommendations, 5) Diversity and Inclusion Pilot Program, 6) National Film Registry Amateur Film/Home Movie 17-film touring program, and 7) Analysis of Selected Remaining Recording Plan Recommendations.

The resulting contract will assist the mission of the Library’s Packard Campus and the Library’s National Film and Recording Preservation Boards to preserve our recording sound and film/moving image heritage for future generations.