About Us

Coin-Op Strength Game, 1890s

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL ARCADE MUSEUM LIBRARY?

The International Arcade Museum Library, Inc. is a research library with the goals and purpose to preserve, research, and disseminated knowledge about, and further an understanding of the art, design, inventions, history and development of amusement, arcade, coin-operated machines, and video-games, from the 1800s until the present, as well as to understand both their influence on society over time and their role as a reflection of society.

The library works with both the public at large and other libraries, museums, and educational institutions to preserve artifacts and knowledge so that this history is better known, understood, appreciated, and enjoyed.

The videogame and arcade preservation movement has really come into its own over the past three decades, in particular with the with key initiatives launched in the 1970s and 1980s such as the Killer List of Videogames (KLOV), Penny Arcadia, and the Video Arcade Preservation Society (VAPS). The International Arcade Museum was formed in 2002 to serve as an umbrella for these initiatives, and people in more than 70 countries have become members. The Arcade-Museum.com web site currently receives over 3,500,000 monthly page views from over 150,000 unique monthly visitors.

The International Arcade Museum Library, Inc. represents the next step of support by collectors and preservationists. The Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, incorporated on 09/09/09, and open since 2010. The IAML is a member of both the American Library Association (http://www.ala.org/) and the OCLC, (http://www.oclc.org/), the service and research organization used by more than 71,000 libraries globally to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve reference, historical, and library materials.

The IAML currently operates in a small donated commercial space in Pasadena CA. Unfortunately our space is not suited for visits by the public without an appointment. We are asking you for donations to help us grow and expand and offerings and facilities. Of course, all donations are tax-deductible. Please support our mission.

WHAT DOES THE LIBRARY DO?

The Library works to acquire, preserve, and index amusement technology literature catalogs, trade magazines, old photographs, obsolete patents, machines, and other historical materials.

The International Arcade Museum Library believes that by presenting history and its interpretation the public will be educated and entertained, and will assist in analyzing, researching, and contributing to society's knowledge of this history.

The International Arcade Museum Library makes available not only its own holdings but also electronic holdings provided by the International Arcade Museum, as well as thousands of other physical holdings on loan by our supporters.

Additionally, it has come to our attention that some important and extremely rare related reference materials have been disposed of ("deaccessioned") by American public libraries. The International Arcade Museum Library offers assistance to other public libraries in recognizing the importance of specific holdings, and/or to provide a home for these holdings in cases in which others are unable or unwilling to any longer.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES - MAILING ADDRESS

The International Arcade Museum Library, Inc.
530 S. Lake Ave. Ste 450
Pasadena, CA 91101