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 Tom Kemp
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.

 

 

 

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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.

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