Being sick has completely thrown off my sleeping schedule and my energy is limited. I'm about to go lay down and try to sleep again, but I just put in a solid bit of writing on a project that, aside from a little work a few days ago (which included cutting a large segment) I hadn't touched in over half a year.
But, it feels good to be writing again. Even if I am coughing and sniffling through the entire writing session.
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Are libraries digitizing microfiche archives?
I am rewatching the Americans on Hulu and there is a scene with a character looking at microfiche of old newspapers. That set me wondering how much of library's microfiche collections had been digitized. That led me to this interesting subreddit discussion from a year ago.
OP's Question: Microfilm collection
I was wondering how libraries are dealing with their old newspaper microfilm collections. How are people persevering the information as the film breaks down? Did your library decide to replace with new copies, find a newspaper database, or digitize the collection? If you digitize was it done in-house or outsourced? Thanks
Top reply:
Microfiche/film has a bonkers long lifespan. Like, pushing 500 years. So, to answer your question, we're not. It's staying where it is because it's one of the most stable formats out there.
A reply in response to concern over acetate microfiche breaking down:
As acetate microfilm breaks down, most institutions that are committed to maintaining their collections will either use their own master reels to produce new, polyester film copies, or they'll order new, polyester film copies from their supplier. The average lifespan of polyester film is approximately 500 years (true longevity unknown, as it hasn't been 500 years since the advent of polyester film yet), and it doesn't degrade with the same volatility as acetate (no vinegar syndrome! yay!).
My workplace, where I manage our microfilm collection, is slowly digitizing on an ad hoc basis. We received funding specifically for a ribbon film scanner so that I can fulfill research requests by scanning entire reels. For legacy newspaper collections, I imagine it is more responsible to check to see what other extant copies exist, and whether they have been digitized as part of NDNP or a similar project. For cost-effectiveness, knowing what I do about the availability and integrity of existing microfilm scanners in most libraries, I imagine any digitization would have to be outsourced.
The conversation largely makes it sound like libraries are moving to digitize them for years prior to digital archiving existing, but it is not universal and relies on funding and access to equipment, etc.
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