Message-Id: <mailto:199510252302.SAA28365@library.wustl.edu> Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 08:59:18 +22303754 From: Colin Webb <mailto:cwebb@NLA.GOV.AU> Subject: Microfilm: archival processing To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB
I am involved in an ongoing debate in Australia about means of certifying that preservation microfilm has been processed correctly. This is not just a subject of academic interest - it has immediate practical imperatives for us because bureaux are hiking up the price of methylene blue testing, arguing against the need for it, and the available options for testing are diminishing rapidly. This experience relates to long term, committed high quality preservation microfilming specialists, not just fly by night, make a quick buck and get out operators.This has been brewing for a while (and as an arm's length manager I have been hoping someone else might solve it!), but it has reached the stage where some serious thinking and deciding is needed.
I would be very interested in hearing what the current (i.e. right now, not necessarily the same as last year) thinking elsewhere in the world is. Does certifying archival processing still seem necessary? How are you doing it (i.e.what method, how often)? How much are you paying for it? Has it all been sidestepped by: 1. modern film processors that replenish processing chemistry in a reliable way, run by bureaux that can be truly relied on to program extra washing, etc as a matter of course? 2. polysulphide toning? (BTW, I don't know anyone in this country who uses it; guess there are a few but they are keeping pretty quiet about it; don't know why) 3. digitisation (along the lines of " we will almost certainly end up digitising our microfilm in a few years anyway, so what's the point of proving it can last for 500 years?")
Apart from number 2 (which makes some sense to me, but is never advanced as a reason) these involve assumptions I am not comfortable with, but I am happy to be convinced.
(As well as set public position statements about what you insist on, I would also be interested in some honest expressions of what you currently do.)
All responses greatly appreciated. I'm happy to summarise for the list if people want to contact me privately. Thanks.
****** Colin Webb ----------------- Manager, Information Preservation T T T T T T T T National Library of Australia I I I I I I I I mailto:cwebb@nla.gov.au I I I I I I I I Phone: +616 262 1381 T T T T T T T T Fax: +616 257 1703 ÿÿÿÿÿÿ "this message reflects my views, not those of NLA" ******