On another list where the topic of preserving and repairing microfilm
was discussed
the possibility of digitizing it came up, and there was this
interesting message :
Nikolas Sarris <sarris1(a)otenet.gr>
reply-toRare book and manuscripts <EXLIBRIS-L(a)listserv.indiana.edu>
toEXLIBRIS-L(a)listserv.indiana.edu
dateWed, Jul 9, 2008 at 11:34 AM
subjectRe: [EXLIBRIS-L] Mending Handling Microfilm
hide details 11:34 AM (1 hour ago)
Reply
There are such specialised microfilm scanners indeed. Although I am
not a specialist on the subject, at the St.John's Theologian Monastery
in Patmos, Greece we have a similar problem to Rebecca's, only that
financial difficulties do not allow us to solve. Digitizing microfilms
is not that cheap. For a quick microfilm scanning it costs about
120euro per microfilm (35mm, 600frames each) so for our small
collection of 300 microfilms it comes around 45,000euros. There are
also slower and less automated microfilm scanners that are cheaper to
buy (about 5,000euros), but you would need many months of work, as
well as training, to produce what could be done in one week with a
quick, automated scanner. Then one should estimate the extra cost of
setting up an electronic database and the hardware set-up for
supporting and reproducing the digitized material. Yet, for any active
library with a high demand by readers I think that this is so much
worth it.
At the same time I agree with Miriam Kahn that you should keep the
master copies stored and work on copies made from them.
Nikolas Sarris
Supervisor of Book Conservation Studio
Monastery of St. John Theologian, Patmos Greece
============
Of course if anyone in Greece has any funds or equipment
to help Patmos (or any sources of same ?) that might be nice ......
===================================
June Samaras
KALAMOS BOOKS
(For Books about Greece)
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : kalamosbooks(a)gmail.com
www.kalamosbooks.com