Who is this archivist, then? And what's this campaign for?

Hello folks! My name's Gem and I'm a qualified librarian from the UK currently interning in Seattle at the Northwest Film Forum cataloguing their 16mm film vault. I spent last year completing my M.A. in Library and Information whilst working two jobs to acquire sufficient funding for the brilliant experience of a six month internship in the U.S.

As the work progressed, it was decided I would continue for a further six months to finish the project. This campaign needs your help to not only aid me with my living expense, but in the knowledge I can bring to the work in unearthing and cataloguing treasures I find in the vault. 

With your help, I will be able to continue adding film titles to the customised collections management program I have installed for the Forum's film archive and enable a fully functional web end to compliment the Forum's website. 

Ok Gem, you've got me intrigued, how can I help?

For the work I am conducting at the NWFF, I need to continue to fund my costs for working as an unpaid intern. As of September I shall have made use of all my savings. Due to stipulations on my intern visa, I am unable to acquire a part-time job to bring home a bit of extra income, so the contributions made by you will be essential in my remaining six months of work. 

Here, let me break it down: $6025

• Rent for six months: ($612.50 a month) $3675
• Bills for six months: ($50 a month) $300
• Ferry pass to work: ($100 a month) $600
• Groceries: ($150 a month) $900 
• Visa extension fee (what's left after fundraiser!): $50
• Extended insurance fee: $500

For your contributions I've rustled up some brilliant perks which money CAN buy! Just a taster:

• A tour of the archive whilst you nibble on your specially made baked goods!
• Immortality on the wall of the archive in Seattle's finest film establishment
• A private screening of the archive film of YOUR choosing!

If you are outside of the U.S. you can contribute without hassle using Paypal :) 

The Impact

Any contribution you can extend to the campaign will help MASSIVELY with my   rent, bills, and my never-ending expense account for jodphurs (it's a librarian thing.)

As well as my personal needs you will be an integral part of uncovered, preserving and cataloguing our collective moving image heritage. So far I have uncovered in the vault:

• An early Roman Polanski short; Two Men and a Wardrobe,
• Automania 2000; a Bachelor & Halas animated short recently voted as one of the Top Ten Animation Films of All Time by the BFI and
• The complete BBC series written by David Attenborough, Tribal Eye.

Since arriving at the Forum, I have curated my first show (!) for the Search & Rescue program which featured some of these titles and was very well-received by the patrons of the Forum. In continuing my work, I will not only be able to have a real breakfast everyday (chewing on styrofoam can give you such a gassy bloat) but the Forum will have a comprehensive database of all the gems in their collection, available for public perusal and for further use in public exhibition! (Ahem. They can show them in the cinema.)

During July I held a film screening fundraiser at the Forum which was a massive success and I hope to continue that success with this campaign. 

Hang on Gem, I haven't got two ha'pennies to rub together! 

Well done for having read this far! You deserve a steak or a quirky eraser to put atop a pencil. However, if you can't contribute financially and do wish to get the word out about this campaign then you can! Whether you are a Facebooker, a Twittenzini or a Schoolmarm you can share details of the campaign with your mates. 

Anything you can do to help will be rewarded with my utmost gratitude and if you have a gander at the perks...probably cookies too :)

Thank you all so much.