Slightly OT: Re: [ARCHIVES] Microfilm --- Is this technology going away? It being a late Friday afternoon (and a LOVELY one out there, what with me stuck in front of this monitor), I find this difficult to resist.

I predict that cuneiform, as a preservation technology, will go away. Along with palm-leaf books.

(Sigh. This discussion is becoming one of our cyclical themes here on Arch & Archs-L...guess it was time to revisit it).

Dennis “I still shoot silver” Moser

~~
Dennis Moser
Digital Content Manager, Systems/CUL Information Support Services
Central University Libraries, Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750135 Dallas, TX 75275-0135
E-mail: [log in to unmask]  http://people.smu.edu/dmoser
214.768.1268 (Fax-214.768.3815)
_________________________________________________________
"Variety of opinion is necessary for objective knowledge."
Paul Feyerabend: "Against Method" 1975.
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From: "Michael D. Gibson" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: "Michael D. Gibson" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 15:31:30 -0500
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARCHIVES] Microfilm --- Is this technology going away?

Is a digital image EYE READABLE?   A microfilmed image is readable with the naked eye. Granted it might be a pain the the “you know what” to read it without a microfilm reader, but with a magnifying glass and a flashlight you can read it with the naked eye.  Is a CD eye readable?  Only if the software and hardware are there to allow you access. If digital data is not constantly transferred to the latest, up-to-date format and you don’t have the proper software interface and/or the proper hardware (equipment, machine, etc.) what will you do?    This is the question archivists must ask---is it eye readable. Digital vendors tout all of the wondrous advantages of the new technology and claim they will “digitize” entire collections.  Yeah, they will “digitize” it alright—right out of existence!  The naked eye will never see it and you will never be able to read it.
 

From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bethke, Neil
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 1:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Microfilm --- Is this technology going away?
Kim-
 
It reminds me of a few years ago when a major mag tape manufacturer decided to shutter their tape factories.  The resultant turmoil from ironically the digital magnetic storage sector spun off the creation of Quantegy (sp?) as a new supplier of mag tape.  
 
Similar to the segment of “old-school photography” that is resistant to digital imaging there are plenty of audio mixers who are still anaolg…the net net result will no doubt simply be higher retail pricing of polymer-based media as a high-end niche specialty market …
 
IMHO
 
Neil Bethke
LMU Archives
 
 
 

From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott, Kim
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 11:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Microfilm --- Is this technology going away?
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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