Microfilm Scanners - MES Hybrid

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Microfilm Scanners

• Transitioning from One Storage Technology to
  Another

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Microfilm Scanners

• Microfilm scanners are used to turn microfilm
  archives into digital formats. Microfilm and
  microfiche were the main storage media for
  decades. Since the 1970s, libraries, law firms,
  government agencies, museums and other
  institutions used this media to archive material
  in a more efficient manner. It certainly was
  easier and cheaper to store a roll of film than
  hundreds of publications.

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Microfilm Scanners

• Microfilm and microfiche serve the same purpose.
  They create images of document material and
  archive it on a film material. The only
  difference between the two media is the shape of
  the final product. For example, microfilm puts
  document images on a roll of film. Microfiche,
  on the other hand, houses document images on a
  flat sheet.

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Microfilm Scanners

• To access information stored on microfilm or
  microfiche, a microfilm reader is required.
  Users put the microfilm into the reader and the
  images are enlarged so they could be easily
  viewed. Most microfilm and microfiche are stored
  as negative images. The reader, therefore,
  converts the archive to positive images.

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Microfilm Scanners

• The microfilm archival method has been popular
  for journals, books, newspapers and historical
  documents. By storing the information on film,
  the original documents are preserved. The public
  can view the contents of these materials easily
  and without causing damage to the paper-based
  original.

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Microfilm Scanners

• The Digital Era Changes Document Archiving
• To preserve the vast amount of information
  contained in documents, microfilm and microfiche
  were the only viable solutions for many years.
  However, when the world started going digital,
  microfilm and microfiche were viewed as archaic
  methods. Storing data on digital media, such as
  disks and removable drives, became the new norm.

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Microfilm Scanners

• But, what happens to the millions of documents
  stored currently archived on microfilm and
  microfiche? Enter microfilm scanners.
•  
• Basically, microfilm scanners scan the images on
  microfilm and convert them into a digital format.
  Then, the digital files are stored as soft
  copies. The conversion can be done by purchasing
  a microfilm scanner or using a scanning service.
  
•  
• Organizations need to conduct a cost analysis to
  determine the best course of action for
  digitizing their microfilm archives. Often, the
  volume of microfilm will dictate whether
  purchasing a microfilm scanner or outsourcing the
  project makes sense.

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Microfilm Scanners

• Characteristics of Microfilm Scanners
•  
• When microfilm scanners convert microfilm and
  microfiche information to digital formats, the
  resulting files are saved as TIFF, PDF or JPEG
  formats. These digital formats can easily be
  copied, stored and sent via e-mail as needed.
  Plus, digital files can be housed in document
  management systems and indexed for easy
  retrieval.

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Microfilm Scanners

• However, one of the biggest advantages of using
  microfilm scanners to convert microfilm images is
  accessibility. No special reader is required to
  access and view the information. With any
  computer or mobile device, digital information
  can be accessed from any location.
•  
• When selecting microfilm scanners, different
  models exist. Companies need to compare each
  models specifications to their requirements to
  determine the best fit. Microfilm scanners will
  vary in terms of image quality, scanning speed
  and cost.

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Microfilm Scanners

• Understanding how microfilm scanners work is the
  first step in the purchase analysis. Working
  similar to a digital camera, the scanners produce
  images from the actual microfilm or microfiche
  material. Depending on the model, special
  capabilities allow images to be enhanced. With
  the different feature sets, each organization
  will need to decide for itself whats most
  useful.

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Microfilm Scanners

• Its important to note that many organizations
  dont completely replace their microfilm
  archives. Microfilm media can last for decades.
  And, digital formats are not foolproof. To
  create the best preservation scenario,
  organizations will typically keep both microfilm
  and digital formats of important documents.

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About the Author

• Kevin D'Arcy is VP of Sales and Marketing for MES
  Hybrid Document Systems, Ontario's leading
  document scanning and document management
  supplier. For more information about Microfilm
  Scanners, visit our website.