The Library has just received the new 2011 Television and Cable Factbook. This is a reference that is full of information about the industry including information by state. The Library is one of the few repositories open to the public that has a nearly complete set of the Factbook dating back to the 1950s. Contact the Library at libraryinfo@cablecenter.org if you have a question.

The Barco Library's Technology Archive is one of the most popular collections visited at The Cable Center. On occasion we receive new pieces of equipment that we are not able to identify as to their use or sometimes even what it is? We are looking for people that would like to help us identify these pieces. If you are interested contact the Library at 303-871-4679 or libraryinfo@cablecenter.org.

If you haven't looked at our photo page recently, we've added some new images of cable television equipment. The photographs have been take from all sides so you get a complete look at the equipment. http://archive.cablecenter.org/

Cable television began in 1948 when a number of people decided they needed to find a way to get television broadcast signals to their communities. Sometimes it was just to watch television, sometimes to help sell more television sets. But for whatever the reason, these early pioneers used their skills to find a way to bring in the television signals. Among the early pioneers are Ed Parsons in Oregon, Jim Davidson in Arkansas and John Walson in Pennsylvania. The development of cable television is an amazing story of inventiveness and entrepreneurship.

Manuscripts are one of the more interesting collections in The Barco Library. These are unique, primary resource materials that can give insight into an individual, a company or an association. A few of the collections that one can find in The Library are the early records of the launch of Oxygen Network, CTAM's Mark Awards dating back to the 1980s, early correspondence with Ed Parsons, one of the first cable television pioneers and the research notes of Thomas Soutwick, author of Distant Signals.