Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Although its URL points specifically to the Oscars, this site is the official domain of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), of which the Oscars is only one (albeit significant) part. The site is divided into six major sections, reflecting the organization's scope: The Awards, Meet the Academy, Events and Exhibitions, Science and Technology, Education and Outreach, and Research and Preservation. The Awards section gives a year-by-year history of the ceremonies, with a searchable separate database for detailed information, along with some photos, nonfilmic historical events of each year, rules, and eligibility. Meet the Academy offers some information on members and existing buildings, and notes a few purchasable books/posters. Events and Exhibitions posts information on AMPAS-hosted exhibitions, and Science and Technology briefly examines technical issues. Education and Outreach is relatively sparse, with some information on AMPAS programs.

Research and Preservation has such hidden gems as the Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database (with some only in transcript format), the Motion Picture Scripts Database (scripts held by Los Angeles area libraries), the Motion Picture Credits Database, and the catalogs of the Margaret Herrick Library for film studies. A simple search box provides access to the entire site, including the Oscar listings. In general the site is user-friendly and fast. . . . .  for general information on AMPAS, users will find this resource sufficient. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and general audience. -- A. J. Adam, Blinn College Reviewed November 2011, ACRL's CHOICE.