Microforms - Micrographic - Microfilm and Me - Frequently Asked Questions - FAQS
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Why Microfilm, micrographics and microforms? I thought that microfilm had past its use by date. Well yes, microfilm has a long history and was first used as long ago as the siege of Paris in the 1870's (no, not a misprint for the 1970's but the eighteen seventies). Refer to the link on our Microfilm Related Links page for the article "The Pigeon Post Into Paris 1870-1871". Microfilm is still truly alive and well today and in some jurisdictions is the only legally approved storage media for the long term, Life Expectancy (LE) or (e.g. archival) retention of information.
What professional groups and organisations use microfilm, micrographics and microforms? Microfilm, micrographics and microforms, especially in 35 mm and to a lesser extent 16 mm rollfilm format is the recognised standard for long term preservation of information by the archive, genealogy, local studies, local history, family history, preservation, records management and Library - Public, Special Purpose, University & Reference communities plus other preservation entities.
Why is this so when computers appear to be taking over the world? The major reason is in respect to the long term (LE) preservation of data (digital bits and bytes, zeros and ones) and information in a human readable form either produced to microfilm, micrographics and microforms from digital data from a computer resource or produced to microfilm, micrographics and microforms from hard copy paper prints, books, ledgers, maps, drawing and or plans.
Why is it that when I wish to look up something e.g. an old newspaper or some old publication that I need to view it from microfilm, micrographics and microforms at a Library - Public, Special Purpose, University & Reference or archive or history centre when I thought I should be able to find the information I wanted on the internet? Some information is available on the internet e.g. newspaper organisations in certain regions make editions from around 1996 e.g. The West Australian newspaper available online but the newspaper publisher will charge you for the privilege of accessing this information online.
Why haven't the libraries, local studies, local history, family history, preservation, genealogy resources, and archives and records management organisations digitised all of their holdings of information and made them available on the internet? Well, some of them have for some of their more important and highly accessed holdings and they continue to add this type of holding with the continuing capture of high value and high access type information. There are costs incurred in carrying out this exercise and you may care to investigate the information made available at the Cornell University website which has detailed information and advice for anyone proposing to perform this capture of information from their microfilm, micrographics and microforms, hard copy, photograph or large format holdings to a digital format. You may care to visit the Cornell University website for full details. Another source of information on this subject can be found at the Weissman Preservation Center, Harvard University Library in their article related to the Preliminary Results of Investigation to Optimize Microfilm, micrographics and microforms for Digitization. Another source of data is based on a project at Yale University's Preservation Department the Yale University Library's Project Open Book with full details available.
I only need to obtain a limited amount of information in a digital format. How can I convert this information to a digital format from the microfilm, micrographics and microforms that I can purchase on the subject? There are a number of lower volume digital microfilm Reader / Printer / Scanners - which are the digital alternative to the now obsolete analogue reader / printer - available from a few manufacturers that will allow you to do this yourself or through a cooperative effort or with a like organisation. Australasian - Digital Microfilm Equipment - DME as the Australasian Distributors of the ST Imaging and e-ImageData range of digital microfilm, micrographic and microform reader / printers and scanners - which are the digital alternative to the now obsolete analogue reader / printer - we may be able to assist you with your project. A visit to our Equipment page may be of interest if you wish to carry out a digitisation project from microfilm, microfiche, aperture cards or jackets.
You may have queries about microfilm, micrographics and microforms that are not covered on this page. If so, please visit our Microfilm and Related Articles, Microfilm Related Links or Glossary of Microfilm Terms where you may be able to obtain an answer to your query.
Should you still not be able to locate the information required to meet your needs, please Contact Us and we attempt to assist you in respect to your query.
For Further Assistance? Or if you require details on the ScanPro 2000 & or require a quotation you can send an e-mail, or phone or fax, Laurie Varendorff @ Phone: Australia @ 08 9286 3705 - International @ +618 9286 3705; Mobile: Australia @ 0417 094 147 - International @ +61 417 094 147; Fax : Australia @ 08 9417 5981 - International @ +618 9417 5981; email @ Laurie Varendorff ARMA.
