Research Guides: Documentary Film: Locating Documentary Films

Avery Fisher Center

The Avery Fisher Center for Music and Media
The Avery Fisher Center for Music and Media (AFC) is located on the 7th floor of Bobst Library. Our collections consist of more than 40,000 videos (including U.S. and foreign cinema, drama and music performances, documentaries, art films, and more) and more than 95,000 audio recordings (including music from the broadest spectrum of classical, traditional, and popular artists, genres, and cultures). Our viewing and listening facilities support a variety of analog and digital formats.

Search the Library's Catalog for Films

Search here for books, articles, journals and other print materials, videos, sound recordings, e-books, e-journals, databases, and indexes in our local libraries and special collections.

Where to Look

NYU Archival Collections
NYU Archival Collections is a single search portal and finding aid for each of the Libraries archival and special collections, including the Fales Library & Special Collections The Tamiment Library & Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University Archives, New-York Historical Society, and Brooklyn Historical Society.
This resource requires an active NYU NetID and password.
WorldCat - FirstSearch (OCLC)
Search for books and more in libraries in the U.S. and around the world. Indicates when NYU Libraries holds a copy of a book and shows you nearby libraries with holdings.

New York Public Archives
Archives are the records created by people and organizations as they lived and worked. Collections can range in size from a single letter or diary to thousands of boxes of institutional records. They can contain drafts of literary works, financial records, meeting minutes, reports, memorabilia, as well as sound recordings, videos, film, databases, and software.

ArchiveGrid
ArchiveGrid is a listing of archival collections across the world. Users can search nearly a million collection descriptions from thousands of libraries, museums, and archives. Researchers searching ArchiveGrid can learn about the many items in each of these collections, contact archives to arrange a visit to examine materials, and order copies.

Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library offering free universal access to books, movies & music, as well as 336 billion archived web pages. earch of term "documentary" in Internet Archives

Docuseek2 Complete Collection (Alexander Street Press)
Docuseek2 is a collection of 1800 documentary films from the catalogues of Bullfrog Films, Icarus Films (including The Fanlight Collection and dGenerate Films), Kartemquin Films, KimStim, the National Film Board of Canada, and Terra Nova Films.

Library of Congress

Streaming Video Databases

NYU Libraries' Streaming Video Database List
Use your NYU-Home login and password to connect from off campus.

PBS Video Collection
The PBS video collection provides streaming access to selected documentaries and programs produced by the Public Broadcasting Service. Coverage runs from the 1970s to present day, and spans a wide range of topics including history, science and technology, diversity studies, business, current events, and biographies. Highlights include programs from Frontline, NOVA, American Experience, Odyssey, and films by Ken Burns and Michael Wood.
Connect With Kids
Connect With Kids is an instructional media company that produces documentary programs for television and evidenced-based, multimedia programs for schools with a focus on student behavior, parent engagement and social and emotional issues. Find information on key mandated health subjects such as recognition and prevention of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and child abduction; child abuse recognition; safety education including fire and arson protection; and violence prevention.
Sign Up and create your own user name and password, using the organization code. If you need that code, please click the link on the Welcome page.

Copyright for Authors and Creators

Scholarly Communications
by April Hathcock Last Updated Apr 2, 2025 513 views this year

Creative Commons licenses are a simple, standardized way to give others permission to share and use your work -- on conditions of your choice. You retain copyright of your work while allowing others to make limited use of your work.

Documentary Films.net

Documentary Films.net
This site provides documentary film information and resources to both viewers and filmmakers. Documentary Films .Net is 100% volunteer driven and is lucky to have a devoted base of filmmakers, reviewers, IT people and students to keep the dream alive. The content here is created by people with a passion for documentary films. In that vein, we’ve tried to keep the site as open as possible by allowing readers to add documentary films, festivals, events and resources to relevant sections of the site. In so doing, we hope to provide a valuable resource to those with an interest in documentary films while simultaneously helping independent documentary filmmakers and festival coordinators promote their films and events.