Minister opens storage vault for archives

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today officially opened an off-site archival storage facility in Pleasantville. The facility, which is a part of The Rooms project, houses some of the collections of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, including its film collection, as well as the film collection of CBC Television. This new facility is one of the best archival storage facilities in Canada.

"This specialized facility further protects our culture and heritage," said Minister Bettney. "It stores archival records which are copied for use because they are too rare or fragile to be used in their original form. It also houses materials like film which require highly specialized environmental conditions."

Through funding from The Rooms project, the film collections have been catalogued and re-cannistered for storage in the special prefabricated refrigerated vault with three separate environments for storage and acclimatization of the film. This process not only preserves the collection, but also makes it more available for research purposes.

Upon completion, The Rooms will be a world-class facility increasing the ability to exhibit and store the province�s invaluable artifacts, art and archival materials. The Provincial Archives, along with the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, will move to the $47 million cultural facility in 2004.

"We are very pleased and proud to be a partner in this important project. Throughout our years of producing television programs, CBC has captured the culture and heritage of this province with its camera lenses. The opening of this film vault gives us the assurance that these valuable and treasured images will be safe and secure for decades to come," said CBC television�s operations manager, Lloyd Noel.

Along with the Provincial Archives and CBC Television, the Department of Works, Services and Transportation provided support for this project.

"I am very pleased that this facility is opening in time to help us celebrate Archives Week," said Minister Bettney. "This is a time when we highlight how valuable archives are in preserving our heritage and culture. I encourage everyone to take part in the various events planned throughout the week."

Media contact:

Melony O�Neill, Tourism Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928
Lloyd Noel, CBC Television, (709) 576-5004

2002 11 18                                        9:30 a.m.