I have no hard evidence to back up this
thought, but I believe that microfilm supplies, at least on the reading end,
will be with us for some time to come. I do believe that original FILMING will
be harder to do; the whole market for silver based photographic supplies will
begin to dry up as most folks become more comfortable with digital cameras,
etc. But when you consider how cheap (and truth be told ) how simple microfilm
readers are, it ought to be fairly easy to keep them going. After all, its
just a matter of lightbulbs, mirrors, and frosted glass….
Kim Allen Scott
Montana State University, Bozeman
From: Archives &
Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 12:17
PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Microfilm --- Is this
technology going away?
There has been a thread on another library list that proposes that
microfilm and its associated technology is going away.
The idea is that the companies that make the film itself, film
duplicating equipment, microfilm cameras, readers, etc. are all
dropping microfilm related products. It goes further to suggest that
because of this it is very difficult to acquire replacement equipment.
It suggests that business, government, archives and libraries
are all moving to digital preservation of business records and historical
records/documents causing a steady down shift in the market.
Like other, older formats the end product still exists (5.4"
floppies; 3.5" floppies; 8 track etc.) but that the equipment we'll need
to use and replicate the microfilm will not be there. That it will be difficult
to get spare parts; replacement equipment.
What are you hearing on this?
Thanks.
A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by
the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of
participation, please refer to
http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.
To
subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body
of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a
message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
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 <[log in to unmask]>
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
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 <[log in to unmask]>