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The public access copies of the films are on compact discs, all are silent films. Between 1928 and 1930 Norman Lidster bought a black and white 16 mm movie camera which he used to documents his travels throughout North America and notable city events in New Westminster. Norman also became a member of the Amateur Cinema League (ACL); this can be seen is some of his films. In 1938, he began using colour film. Along with shooting his own movies this collection contains a number of commercially produced films that Norman Lidster bought (or otherwise acquired) over the years. Most of these commercially bought films are different types of travel videos or news reels. These purchased films range from events shot between 1910s to 1958. The films shot by Norman Lidster have been shot between 1928 into the 1960s. These movies are a combination of home movies of Norman Lidster’s travels in North American, various family scenes, and important events in New Westminster, including: May Days 1931 to 1963 (excluding 1939, 1960 and 1962), Royal visits 1939, 1951, and 1959 to New Westminster, official opening of the New Queensborough Bridge, and the 1950 opening of Irving House as a museum. At least two of these films might have been shot by the Springate family (CD 500 and 171, however this has not been confirmed). The New Westminster Archives has 59 metal canisters with 58 reels of film. Of these 58 reels of film, 48 have been digitized. Some of the digital versions of these films contain more than one reel of film (these have been clearly marked). Furthermore, some of the footage shot be Norman Lidster is mixed on the same film as the commercially produced films that he bought, with 3 films having mixed contents, 28 films are shot by Norman Lidster and 12 films are commercially bought.

The fonds consists of the following series: Home Movies; May Day Home Movies; Commercially produced films; and Combined home movies and commerically produced films.

These films contain parts filmed by Norman Lidster and parts purchased by him that have been spliced together on the same film reel. Parts of film shot by Norman are scenes of a trip to Yellowstone National Park, the New Westminster Hyack Anvil Battery, family scenes and a trip to Grand Coulee Dam. Parts of film purchased by Norman include multiple 1920s Hollywood short clips on various topics.

These films feature different scenes from various New Westminster May Days from, 1931 to 1963 (excluding 1939, 1960 and 1962). Most films show May Day parades, speeches, activities, and crowning of May Day Queens. All were filmed by Norman Lidster.

These films feature scenes and short films that have been commercially produced that Norman Lidster purchased over the years. The films appear to feature scenes that have been shot between the 1910s to 1950s. Most films are travel videos featuring views of multiple towns, cities, and countries around the world. Other films are types of news reels featuring British royal weddings, royal visits and coronations (Also featuring coronation of a Maharaja). Also featured are scenes from the First World War with T.E. Lawrence and Field Marshal Allenby. Furthermore, some films feature stories of various themes.

These films have been shot and edited by Norman Lidster. Films feature a variety of subjects and themes. Many films feature scenes shot from Lidster's trips across British Columbia, Eastern Canada and the United States. Many present scenes of his family and different New Westminster celebrations including, opening of the Queenborough Bridge, opening of Irving House as a museum, scenes with the Governor-General Vincent Massey, May Days, and royal visits: 1939, 1951, 1959. Some videos might have been filmed by the Springate family, although this has not been confirmed. This series has been further sub-divided into a series (A.1) featuring only films depicting May Day (some parts on these May Day films do have subjects other then May Day and are clearly indicated).