To Film or To Scan:
Preservation Options in a Digital World
May 20 –22, 2003
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 

A Workshop on Preservation Microfilming & Digital Imaging
of Paper-Based Materials 

            Digital cameras and scanners are virtually everywhere and many cultural institutions are now digitizing paper-based collections to provide enhanced access to the information they contain.  But is digitization a legitimate preservation strategy?  That is just one of the many critically important issues to be addressed at NEDCC’s latest “To Film or To Scan” workshop. 

            This unique educational program explores two reformatting technologies – preservation microfilming and digitization – from a project management perspective.  In past offerings, both technologies have been afforded equal classroom time.  The Albuquerque program – on an experimental basis – will be weighted more decidedly toward digitization.  Also for the first time in Albuquerque, copyright issues will be addressed in the curriculum.

The “To Film or To Scan” workshop is specifically designed to train project managers to plan, implement, and manage both analog and digital reformatting projects.  Consequently, classroom instruction will focus on development of decision-making skills.  Compliance with national standards and with guidelines established by the Research Libraries Group (RLG) will be emphasized for preservation microfilming projects, while emerging standards and best practices will be discussed relative to digitization.  NOTE:  This workshop is NOT a technician training program.  Subjects to be covered include the following:

• Role of Analog and Digital Reformatting in Preservation of Collections
• Selecting an Appropriate Reformatting Technology
• Copyright
• Establishing and Maintaining Infrastructure to Support Digital Programs
• Overview of Digital Technology Choices
• Digital Preservation
• Metadata
• Quality and Cost

Presented by: Wes Boomgaarden, Preservation Officer and Project Director, Ohio State University Libraries; Paul Conway, Director, Information Libraries Technology Services, Duke University; Steve Dalton, Director, Field Service, Northeast Document Conservation Center; Nancy Dennis, Director, Collections and Technology Services, University of New Mexico General Library; Mary Minow, Library Law Consultant; and Steve Puglia, Image Constructors, LLC.

     This workshop is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).  It is hosted by the University of New Mexico.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT NEDCC’S WEBSITE, AT 

http://www.nedcc.org/filmscannm/micagen.htm