The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) aims to support the digitization of rare and unique content to deepen public understanding of the histories of underrepresented communities. By focusing on the histories of people of color and other marginalized groups, CLIR seeks to amplify voices and perspectives that have been insufficiently recognized or unattended, contributing to a more complete understanding of human history.
The goal of the Recordings at Risk program is to support the digital reformatting of at-risk audio and audiovisual media to preserve their scholarly value. With $6.75 million in funding for twelve competitions, awards range from $10,000 to $50,000, covering the costs of preservation reformatting by qualified service providers. The program covers a broad scope of media, including magnetic audio and video tape, grooved discs, wax cylinders, wire recordings, and film. It targets professionals from institutions with limited resources and/or technical expertise, aiming to prioritize preservation needs, foster partnerships for digital reformatting, and promote awareness of best practices. The grant program evaluates applications based on their potential scholarly and public impact, urgency of reformatting, preservation viability, and ethical access strategies.