Subject Librarian: Kathryn Elder
Academic Programmes Supported and Description of Current Collection
Library collections concerned with cinema are required to support undergraduate courses in cinema studies, in film and video production, and interdisciplinary courses which examine the cultural impact of cinema. The collections support the masters program in the Department of Film and Video which focuses on both the theoretical and professional aspects of the media and so requires materials on the history and aesthetics of the cinema and on the techniques of film and video production, especially screen writing. The collections also support the graduate program in Arts Administration in the School of Business.
Description of Current Collection
The cinema studies collection includes materials about film theories, national cinemas, feature film genres (e.g. comedies, westerns, film noir), alternate cinema practices, as well as screenplays and analyses of work of individual directors and performers. Materials related to film and video production cover the subjects of production management, directing, scriptwriting, acting, cinematography/computer imaging, lighting, picture editing/time code editing, sound recording and editing/soundscaping, as well as film distribution and exhibition.
Related Collections at York
Relevant materials can be found in the other fine arts collections -- music, dance and theatre -- as well as in the government documents collection. Material on the sociological impact of television, the broadcast industry and telecommunications technology are selected by the Mass Communications Bibliographer. Material on video art is selected by the Visual Arts Bibliographer. Material on computer graphics and design is selected by the Computer Sciences Bibliographer.
Languages
English is the language of the collection. Materials in French, German, Italian, Spanish and other languages are acquired selectively.
Geographical Coverage
Most material is acquired from North American and British publishers. Material from publishers in other countries is acquired selectively.
There are no limits on the geographical coverage of the collection. Special emphasis is given to acquiring material on Canadian cinema.
Chronological Coverage
There are no limits on the time period covered by the collection.
Date of Publications
Emphasis is on current publications. Retrospective purchasing is done on a selective basis.
Duplication
Duplicate copies are purchased when circulation statistics warrant.
Relegation and Weeding
There is no systematic relegation or weeding. Publications in poor condition are discarded or replaced, according to their importance.
Types of Materials
Monographs are purchased in paperback where possible. Journal subscriptions are maintained for standard periodicals. Paper subscriptions for indexes are converted to electronic forms in consultation with the Reference Bibliographer and as funds permit. New titles are added selectively. Backruns of periodicals are acquired in microfilm. Doctoral dissertations are acquired selectively.
To support the Film and Video Department's research institute in Canadian documentary and docudrama filmmaking (the Donald Brittain Centre for Film Studies) and in consultation with the University Archivist, we are soliciting the papers and productions of filmmakers whose work complements the cinema studies collection mandate.
Resources Elsewhere in the Toronto Region
Faculty and students have access to strong collections at the University of Toronto, the Metropolitan Toronto Library and the Library of the Ontario Cinematheque.
Last updated 1995