Here are some other considerations in digital imaging of archives and physical objects -- protecting and securing the digital files.
Standard safes used to store paper files are not correct for storing digital mdeia, such as tape, CD-ROM, DVD disks, and even external hard drives.
Safes that are "fire rated" used to store papers generally protect the contents from temperatures above 400F degrees for one or two hours. But magnetic tape, CD-ROMs, DVD disks and external hard drives must be protected from temperatures exceeding 125F degrees for that same time. Search for "media safe" to see what is available for the office and home.
I saw several comments about "off-site" storage. Also a good idea, but is the location for off-site storage a business specializing in such storage, or is it in the trunk of a car or in a bag next to a television or refrigerator at home? Magnetic medium can be "wiped" by the electronic radiation fields from things like televisions and refrigerators.
And don't forget that both sides of CD-ROMs and DVD disks must be protected from scratches and nicks. While the laser looks through the bottom of the disk, the reflective layer on the top of the disk must be intact for it to be read correctly.
Kirk Ransom
Minnetonka, MN
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of archives
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 10:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: electronic storage device nomenclature
Thank you all for all your replies. I did go to the Archivist list, and
there was a thread similar, but it hadn't been resolved. I am contacting
the original querent to see what she might have learned off-list. The
following is to try to explain my original request, since it seems to have
confused people.
All of the 'scan only' images we own have been attached to Past Perfect
cataloging, and the CD/Zip files are either the archival back-up copies, or
the
original image files from the donor (each donor's gift images that I have
scanned from their originals) are archived
on a CD under their accession number). All of the images attached to PP
are also backed up, a folder at a time, on CDs. That is why the original
nomenclature query-what do I call these electronic donor files in my Past
Perfect
cataloging? ROM, CD/DISK, ZIP (?)
One of my largest image 'scan only' files comes from the local newspaper's
morgue.
They were kind enough to let me scan the photos from their photo morgue (2
owners ago, in the 1980s, one seller did not convey the previous photo file
and it vanished) for our collection. The original photos are at the
newspaper; we have the scans & backups of the scans on CD. At least if the
paper is sold and the photo morgue lost again, these 650 images will be
preserved.
The worry I have is that later on these electronic only files will be
unreadable by future programs. That is why I felt it might be prudent to
print copies of the 400 dpi TIFF archival images, just in case. Also, when
I get time,
all files on Zip disks will go on either CDs or DVD (my computer does not
have a DVD drive)
because the Zip drive seems to be like the Dodo...disappearing.
Again, thank you for helping. This one-band band in a small town in the
Shenandoah Valley appreciates it. Mary Thomason-Morris, Archivist, Clarke
Co. Hist.
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