[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: soliciting input/advice (microfiliming project)



In general, digitizing is great for access, but microfilming is still the
medium of choice for preservation.  There are a few organizations (I
suspect, mostly businesses, with a financial stake in the data) that can
make a solid commitment to rigorous migration.  For those few, digitizing
might be the way to go.

However, I suspect that most of us would be leery  of guaranteeing that
every time the software or hardware changes, our institution will not only
invest money in the machinery, but will also have the funds to migrate every
single affected file.

Imagine in 40 years finding that set of three CD-ROMs that had been missing
for the past 35 years.  Do you really think anyone will be able to play it?
I have 5-1/4" disks in my office with WordStar files -- less than 10 years
old, and more than obsolete.

The ideal is a combination of digitization and microfilm -- one for
preservation, and one for access.  There are companies now that do both and
I expect it will become the norm.

-------------------------------------
Janet E. Roberts
Maine State Archives and        Tel: 207-287-5791
Maine Newspaper Project         FAX: 207-287-5739
#84 State House Station         email: janet.roberts@state.me.us
Augusta, ME   04333-0084

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>