National Audio Visual Conservation Center
[High-tech government archiving techniques showcased.]
“The National Audio Visual Conservation Center, near Culpeper, Virginia, once contained billions in cash, squirrelled away to kickstart the economy in the event of an atomic apocalypse. Beautifully renovated, it now has 175,000 square feet of offices and laboratories, 135,000 square feet of collections storage, and 55,000 square feet dedicated to storing dangerous nitrate film in optimal conditions. There are more than a million films, television shows, DVDs and games already in its collection.”
[There's something beautiful about a ridiculous nuclear fail-safe piggy bank now being used as a library. Other great quotes:]
“”The late 1970s is one of the worst times for video longevity,” Lukow said. “Magnetic tape is our largest preservation problem.”"
“There is an entire room at the campus dedicated to rewinding things. Almost every room, however, has cutting facilities of one kind or another.”