British Film Institute to partner with the British Library

The BFI and London’s British Library are to join forces to increase access to their unique collections.

The partnership, which will be managed by a joint steering committee, will focus on ways of “collecting, preserving and providing contemporary and long term access to their collections in the digital age for the benefit of research and the wider public.”

The two bodies will also explore issues such as contributing to IPR and copyright discussions, metadata and resource discovery, how new digital technologies and enhanced physical spaces can improve access to film and television content and how both institutions can offer services for the creative industries.

More specific details will be developed at a strategic summit in early spring but both bodies said they expected the partnership, which is non exclusive, to expand to include other public archives.

Amanda Nevill, director of the BFI, said she was “delighted to be developing this key partnership with one of the world-leading custodians of our UK heritage. Partnerships such as this are crucial as we explore new ways to increase access to our collections across a range of different media and platforms in the digital economy and ensure we maximise our combined knowledge, expertise and resources.”

Dame Lynne Brindley, CEO of the British Library added that the “innovative partnership demonstrates our commitment to working with other major national institutions for the benefit of researchers.”