How to Make the Most of Your Microform Collection

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How to Make the Most of Your Microform Collection

• Charleston Conference
• November 6, 2008
• Tinker Massey
• Serials Librarian
• Hunt LibraryEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Daytona Beach, Florida
• Steve Knowlton
• Library Holdings Consultant
• UMI Division of ProQuest
• Ann Arbor, Michigan

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The Microforms Issue

• Where microfilms came from
• Difficulties accessing them
• How Embry-Riddle organizes periodicals for access

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The Microforms Issue

• Microforms were a great advance over paper
  collections
• Most libraries have large collections of
  microforms (representing an investment of
  millions of dollars)
• Microforms still have an important role in your
  collection
• Unique content
• Good condition

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The Microforms Issue

• Library patrons dont use microforms
• Microform resources can be hard to find
• A perception that microforms dont fit in the
  digital environment
• What can be done to make the investment in
  microforms pay off?

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Agenda

• Cataloging techniques to enhance access to
  microforms
• Digital microform scanners

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• In the past, some libraries didnt catalog
  microform sets
• Difficult time-consuming
• Expectation that users would consult librarians
  about information sources
• Library users now expect to find information on
  their own

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• The user experience
• 1. Find the catalog record
• 2. Find the binder at the microforms desk
• 3. Look up the finding aid, and retrieve it
• 4. Keep digging
• or go home and Google?

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Catalog microform sets at the title level for
  improved access
• Most libraries cant afford that much work
• Take advantage of cooperatively cataloged sets
• (e.g., WorldCat Collection Sets)

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Examples from the more than 300 sets of catalog
  records available through OCLC

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Commercial vendors also have catalog records
  available

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access
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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Finding aids indexes guides
• Catalog records can be confusing
• Record for microform set may not indicate the
  guide
• Microform set and guide may be separately
  cataloged

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Avoid the frustration
• Put links to finding aids in the catalog record

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Point to a print index

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Link to an online finding aid

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Example of an online finding aid

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• Example of an online finding aid

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Cataloging Microforms to Enhance Access

• SUMMARY
• Add title-level MARC records
• Links to Finding Aids

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Microform Readers

• Old Microform Readers

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Microform Readers

• 1. Need to print or take notes
• 2. Then re-type it into your computer

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners
• 1. Advantages over traditional scanners
• Digital interface more familiar for younger
  patrons
• Can be used in normal lighting
• Save space
• Double as PC stations
• Improve image quality

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Microform Image Quality
• Often murky, out of focus
• Occasionally because of poor filming technique
• Often due to limitations of viewing equipment

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners Improve image
  quality

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Readers
• - Correct skewed frames
• Load film any way you want digital reader can
  fix it
• Now a pleasure to read microfilms
• Digital readers are popular additions in many
  libraries

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Readers
• Some popular makes
• ScanPro www.e-imagedata.com
• S-T Imaging www.stimaging.com
• ImageMouse www.shopbrodart.com
• Konica Minolta www.konicaminolta.com
• Agfa www.agfa.com
• 3M www.3m.com
• ALOS www.alosusa.com
• EyeCom www.eyecom.com

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners
• Price range 5000- 15,000
• Advanced options
• Remote access
• Auto-scan roll film
• View opaque cards, ultrafiche, aperture cards

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners
• Save image from microform to your computer
• Allow users who want to work digitally to use
  the unique microform content in a linked learning
  environment

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners
• What can you do with scanned images?
• Courseware
• Electronic reserves
• Save files for use at home or office
• Email to fellow researchers
• Incorporate images in research papers
• (Important observe Fair Use rules)

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Making Microforms Material Accessible to Digital
Users

• Digital Microform Scanners
• Allow electronically-oriented patrons to migrate
  unique microform content into the digital world
• Consider library marketing to make patrons aware
  of the possibilities

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Making the Most of Your Investment in Microforms

• GRAND SUMMARY
• Try some new ideas
• periodicals holdings list
• MARC records for microform sets
• links to online guides
• using digital scanners
• Get that unique content out into the digital
  world