Recordings at Risk
Recordings at Risk supports organizations with limited resources or technical expertise in digitally reformatting rare audio and audiovisual media to preserve at-risk recordings of public value.
This grant was recently updated
Registration links were added for the Cycle 14 applicant webinar on November 18, 2026, and Q&A webinar on January 12, 2027, both at 2:00 PM ET. Application guideline links now point to Cycle 14 documents instead of Cycle 13.
Funder: Council on Library and Information Resources
Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (Applications open) | February 23, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$60,000 for 12 months; no cost-sharing required
Summary: Supports digital reformatting of rare and unique at-risk audio, audiovisual, and other time-based media of public value.
Key Information: Qualified external service providers must perform reformatting; in-house digitization is not eligible.
Description
Recordings at Risk is a regranting program administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), with support from the Mellon Foundation. It funds preservation reformatting of rare and unique audio, audiovisual, and other time-based media threatened by degradation or obsolescence. Materials may include magnetic audio and video tape, grooved discs, wax cylinders, wire recordings, and film with or without sound.
The program serves organizations constrained by limited resources or technical expertise. It helps them identify preservation priorities, develop practical digital reformatting strategies, build partnerships, and strengthen awareness of best practices. Collections may support research, education, information work, or creative practice in any field—not only the humanities or higher education. Preservation takes priority over access, although applicants must address ongoing stewardship and legal and ethical access concerns.
