Lynne,

When the newspapers were filmed weren't preservation copies made of the
film.  For preservation purposes one copy should be on polyester.  This copy
is kept and hopefully never used (polyester is so strong it tears up the
equipment). The next generation should be a master copy.  From this copy a
third generation copy is made.  The master copy and the polyester copy
should be stored separately just incase of any type of disaster.  From the
third generation copy all other copies are made.  If a film becomes
scratched and unusable the third generation copy is used to make more copies
for use by patrons. Now this happens in a perfect world - however there may
be another microfilm copy of the newspapers in question.  It would be worth
the search - just to save the originals from more wear and tear.

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