About the Film Collection \;
\; \;
The 16mm film collection has been part of
the Library's holdings for over 55 years. Its first films were part of th
e City of Miami&rsquo\;s public library and began in the 1960s before ther
e was a county library. When MDPLS was formed\, the County supplemented it
s local funding for films with Federal LSCA grants (Library Services and C
onstruction Act). Apart from leased feature films\, all films were purchas
ed for free exhibition for the life of the print. Subjects within the coll
ection include experimental/avant-garde art films\, non-narrated films\, c
hildren&rsquo\;s films\, Black history\, Floridiana\, and local history. T
oday\, there are over 4\,000 films within the collection. \;
About the Division of Special Collections &\; Archives&n
bsp\;
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Miami-Dade Public Library System&r
squo\;s Division of Special Collections &\; Archives holds rare and irr
eplaceable historical documents for the benefit of the public and scholarl
y community. They oversee the Helen Muir Florida Collection\, 16mm Film Co
llection\, Cuban Collection of Rare Books &\; Ephemera\, genealogy\, Va
sari Project\, and rare &\; antiquarian books from as early as the 17th
century. The Division's primary goal is to provide the public with the co
ntents of the vault at their request. Its collections include rare books\,
original manuscripts\, over 18\,000 photographs\, prints\, artifacts\, au
diovisual resources\, and electronic media. \;