Scanning is for access only, not preservation.  If access is the only
issue, then scanning is OK.  However, in order to search, the text has
to be OCR'd.  For a brand new pristine book the failure rate is 95-99%,
which isn't a lot, but it means each page should be proofed and
corrected.  For old newspaper articles with fading print, the failure
rate for OCR could be as high as 85% at times, and you might as well
just retype it.  OCR technology is improving all the time, so print in
decent shape might turn out OK.

Microfilm, if properly cared for, is projected to last for 500 years.  A
master copy made from silver halide would be stored offsite at a
constant temperature and humidity in a special vault and never removed
except for examination for deterioration.  Digital files?  I have disks
that are less than ten years old that I can no longer read.

If the newspapers are going to be microfilmed, the patron should be
asked to supply a master copy of silver halide for preservation, another
copy from which additional copies could be made, and a user copy for the
institution.


Rebecca Fitzgerald, CA
Archivist & Director, Special Collections
Mt. St. Mary's Archives & Dept. of Special Collections
Mt. St. Mary's College & Seminary
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
301/447-5397
301/447-6868 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
http://www.msmary.edu/studentsandstaff/library/archives.htm

These opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my
employer.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kate Wilcox [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 12:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Microfilm Copying

I'm not in this field and may know nothing about this, but why would you
microfilm instead of computer scan?  Scanning would allow text
conversion so
that articles could be "searched" in the future.  I assume it is faster
to
look through microfilms than files but if you didn't need to be the one
to
do the looking - if you could have the computer do it for you - wouldn't
that be easier?

Just my opinion,
Kate Wilcox

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of David E. Haberstich
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 12:13 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Microfilm Copying


On a couple of occasions we've had patrons pay to have some of our
material
microfilmed, on condition that it was for their own use and not for
resale.
And of course, they provided us with a copy.  We felt this was a win/win
proposition.  It's important to make sure that appropriate titles and
targets
are included to identify your repository as the owner of the "original"
materials.  I'd say proceed, with caution.

David Haberstich

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