
Live Webinar!
Film Doesn’t Really Last Forever: 5 Things You Can Do to Prevent a Collection Emergency
Date: June 9, 2021 | 10:00 AM (MST) Duration: 1 hr |
During its heyday in the 1930s and ‘40s, microfilm was touted as an almost magical invention that not only saved space, but would preserve old documents forever. But, as is often the case with new technology, the only way to find out how long it would really last was to wait and see.
Today, as many microfilm collections are approaching a century old, it’s become clear that “forever” had its limitations. The right type of film, stored under perfect environmental settings, might still be in good shape – but real-world conditions usually haven’t been so kind. Entire collections have been ravaged by humidity, natural deterioration, or the dreaded “Vinegar Syndrome,” and with much of the world’s microfilm sitting overlooked and forgotten in basements and storage rooms, the problem is only going to continue.
Digitization is ultimately the only surefire way to ensure your microfilm collection isn’t claimed by one of these increasingly common causes. But you can buy yourself some time by following a few best practices to evaluate and care for your historical records.
In this webinar you will learn:
- A brief history of microfilm and how it came to be
- Considerations for proper handling and environmental conditions
- How to identify microfilm at risk of deterioration and natural disaster
- 5 options to analyze in the event of a microfilm collection disaster or emergency
Bring your questions for the live Q&A session after this presentation.
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