Resources for Performing Arts Archivists and Archives

Resources for Performing Arts Archivists

American Society for Theatre Research - "U.S.-based professional organization that fosters scholarship on worldwide theatre and performance, both historical and contemporary." Includes a resources page for additional information on theatrical scholarship, publications, and related organization. 

American Theatre Archive Project - "The American Theatre Archive Project (ATAP), created in 2009, is an initiative of the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) that advocates for the preservation of American theatrical legacy. Specifically, ATAP provides resources to assist living theatre companies in managing their current and archival records." Includes resources such as the Archiving Theatre Manual, means to reach consulting archivists, among others. 

Association of Moving Image Archivists - "an international nonprofit association dedicated to the preservation and use of moving image media." The site includes a resources page on the handling of various forms of moving image media, such as storage, cataloging, and format specific related information.  

Dance/USA Archiving and Preservation - A department within the Dance/USA organization dedicated. Its mission is to promote the advancement of "the ability of diverse dance communities to safeguard and share their legacies, as well as to promote education and awareness of dance archiving practices and dance history and scholarship." A key resource on this website is the Artists' Legacy Toolkit, "a free online suite of guidelines, tools and templates to help independent artists and dance companies organize, preserve, and plan for the legacy of their records." 

Music Library Association - Association dedicated to music libraries and their librarians with a mission "to provide 'a professional forum for librarians, archivists, and others who support and preserve the world’s musical heritage.'" 

National Recording Preservation Board - Program sponsored by the Library of Congress  that chooses "25 recordings showcasing the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage in order to increase preservation awareness." Also includes a resources page for audio archives, scholarship, and commercial services.

Theatre Library Association - an association dedicated to support "librarians and archivists affiliated with theatre, dance, performance studies, popular entertainment, motion picture and broadcasting collections." Its resources page includes links to performing arts publishers, groups, and career listings. 

Listings for Performing Arts Archives, Libraries and Museums

Music Library Association Chapter Repositories

Theatre Library Association Listings for Performing Arts institutions

Project-Specific Resources and Information

Moving to a New Ideal – A Relocation of a Performing Arts Library - report by PAS Steering Committee member Vincent Novaro examining "the experiences of relocating a state university branch library across campus to a new facility still under construction."

ALA: Moving or relocating a Library - Resources from various organizations regarding moving collections. 

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