Microfilm
Microfilm is a fine grain, high resolution film used to record microimages. Microfiche is a flexible transparent sheet of film bearing a number of microimages arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns, normally having an identifying strip legible without magnification. Microform is a generic term for any medium, transparent or opaque, including, but not limited to, aperture cards, microfiche, microfilm strips, and rolls. (Source: A Glossary for Archivists, Manuscript Curators, and Records Managers. Lewis and Lynn Lady Bellardo. Society of American Archivists, Chicago: 1992).
This subject area includes documents related to managing microfilm projects, selecting a microfilm vendor, microfilm inspection, quality control, storage, preservation uses of microfilm, standards, etc.
This section lists each of the Microfilm documents:
| Document Title | Document Description | Document Size (measured in KBs) |
|---|---|---|
| Acetate Microfilm | This publication describes acetate-based film, the problems associate with it, and mitigation strategies. 6 pages. 2003. New York State Archives Government Records Services. | 137 KB |
| Best Practics for Reproducing Public Records | This document provides information that will assist in the task of analyzing business records and the possible solutions for managing them and serves as an introduction for the best practice documents published by the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, including: Best Practices for the Microfilming of Digitized Records, Best Practices for the Microfilming of Paper Records, and Best Practices for the Capture of Digital Images from Paper or Microfilm. 12 pages. | 230 KB |
| Best Practices for the Microfilming of Digitized Records | This document applies to the conversion of public records by any Michigan public body from digitized format to microfilm for the purpose of maintaining official records in a micrographic format or as a redundancy to an imaging system. This document is intended to assist agencies and local governments with ensuring that the records they convert are authentic, reliable, have integrity, and are usable. 11 pages. | 198 KB |
| Best Practices for the Microfilming of Paper Records | 251 KB | |
| Choosing a microfilm camera | This leaflet describes the three types of microfilm cameras (planetary, rotary, and step-and-repeat cameras), their characteristics, and their advantages and disadvantages. 6 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 137 KB |
| Choosing a micrographics service bureau | This leaflet sets out the steps to follow when choosing a service bureau to film records. 5 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 135 KB |
| Choosing microfilm readers and reader/printers | This leaflet discuss factors that a records management office or other official should take into account before buying a microfilm reader or reader/printer. 11 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 245 KB |
| Computer Output Microfilm (COM) | This leaflet describes Computer Output Microfilm and discusses the pros and cons of its use. 4 pages. Reprinted 3/14/02. New York State Archives Government Records Services. | 137 KB |
| Conversion of Electronic Records to Microfilm - NC | Describes North Carolina State Archives’ fee-based service that enables state government agencies to convert scanned images or “born digital” records to archival microfilm. Includes a discussion of technical limitations, recommendations, and requirements for submission. 5 pages. 2008. North Carolina State Archives. | 35 KB |
| The deposit of security microfilm | Standards for acceptance of microfilm for storage security by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. 6 pages. | 257 KB |
| Editing and splicing roll microfilm of long-term or archival value | This leaflet covers retakes – the correction of errors by editing, re-filming, and splicing – a common practice in the field of micrographics – and explains what must be followed to ensure the retakes meet standards. 7 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 190 KB |
| Getting Started with Microfilm – AL | Procedural leaflet on subject title. Purpose of leaflet is make government officials aware of the basic issues and requirements of microfilm so that they can make informed decisions about converting agency records to this medium. 6 pages. 2002. Alabama Department of History and Archives. | 114 KB |
| Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records – MO | Developed by the Local Records Preservation Program of Missouri State Archives to help local officials ensure that their microfilm meets the necessary criteria to ensure it will be a permanent and useful replacement for paper records. 60 pages. 2005. | 763 KB |
| Guidelines for the Publication of Micrographics Technologies in Public Records Management – FL | This handbook is a resource of basic information for all Florida government agencies on the subject of micrographics. It is intended to provide a factual overview of micrographics and the micrographic process. 44 pages. Florida Bureau of Archives and Records Management. | 1874 KB |
| Guidelines for the Conversion of Digital Images to Microfilm Format – SC | Microfilm produced from scanned images offers some unique challenges. These guidelines from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History attempt to provide the necessary controls to ensure reasonable quality in this hybrid of new and old technology. 4 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. 2003. | 42 KB |
| Introduction to Micrographics | Introduction to the basics of microfilming, including when to consider microfilming and how microfilming works. 1997 (20 pages). New York State Archives, Local Government Records Management Technical Information Series. | 92 KB |
| Microfilming Agency Records – GA | These microfilming standards, when followed, “ensure that (an) agency’s investment in staff time and money produces a good product.” 2 pages. 2008. Georgia Archives. | 117 KB |
| Microfilming Standards and Procedures: State Agency Bulletin Number Two – TX | Texas Government Code, sections relative to Microfilmed State Records. 21 pages. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. 1997. | 73 KB |
| Microfilming Standards and Procedures: Local Government Bulletin Number One – TX | This bulletin contains the statutory law governing microfilming by local governments. 14 pages. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. 1996. | 141 KB |
| Microfilm and microforms – SC | This pamphlet explains types of microfilm, the formats in which microfilm can be created, and the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options. 10 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 210 KB |
| Microfilm Standards – RI | This document contains standards and guidelines for the selection of records to be microfilmed, the selection of equipment and vendors, the security duplication of microfilm records, and the quality of the microfilming, processing, duplication, and storage process. 27 pages. Office of the Secretary of State, Rhode Island State Archives and Public Records Administration. | 323 KB |
| Preparing a Contract for Archival-Quality Microfilming Services – AL | This technical leaflet provides a sample contract as a guide for state and local agencies in preparing service contracts with micrographic laboratories. It identifies the contract issues and technical standards that apply to microfilming work. 12 pages. Alabama State Records Commission - Local Government Records Commission. 2004. | 325 KB |
| Preservation microfilming – SC | This leaflet discusses preservation microfilming only as an archival too. Other information leaflets cover technical issues. 6 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 183 KB |
| Procedures for Loose Records Preparation by County Project Volunteers – AL | Procedural leaflet on subject title. Intended to assist local volunteers in preparing loose county records for microfilming. 4 pages. 2001. Alabama Department of History and Archives. | 118 KB |
| Producing High Quality Microfilm – NY | This publication defines technical guidelines for producing high-quality microfilm and raises issues that local and state officials will want to consider before undertaking a micrographics project. 61 pages. NY State Archives and Records Administration. 1998. | 2387 KB |
| Quality testing of microfilm – SC | This leaflet discusses methods of inspecting microfilm to ensure that it meets minimum quality standards. 9 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 218 KB |
| Recordkeeping Requirements for Your Micrographics Program – GA | Identifies the classes of records public officials should maintain in compliance with the requirements set out in “Standards for Microfilming Records” by the Georgia Archives, as part of a reformatting program. 4 pages. 2008. Georgia Archives. | 119 KB |
| Record Keeping Requirements for Your Micrographics Program – GA | This leaflet identifies the classes of records public officials should maintain in compliance with the requirements for microfilming records as part of a reformatting program. 5 pages. Records and Information Management Services, Georgia Div. of Archives and History.2000. | 20 KB |
| Selecting a Micrographics Service Bureau – GA | This leaflet sets out the steps public officials should follow when selecting a service bureau. 3 pages. Georgia Division of Archives and History. | 21 KB |
| Service bureau or in-house microfilming – SC | This leaflet explains the factors that officials must weigh in choosing the best option for microfilming records of a government office. 8 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 191 KB |
| Standards for Microfilming Public Records – ND | These standards were derived from those developed by AIIM and ANSI and relate to image density, resolution, identification, and stability. 35 pages. North Dakota Information Technology Department. 1991. | 2094 KB |
| Standards for Microfilming Records (2008) – GA | Standards and guidelines in this leaflet are based on ANSI and AIIM standards and are endorsed by the Georgia Archives. Reviews legal requirements, destruction of original records, document preparation, targeting, selection of equipment and supplies, quality control, and more. 12 pages. 2008. Georgia Archives. | 88 KB |
| Standards for Microfilming Records – GA | This leaflet identifies the national standards and guidelines to be used in the production and storage of high-quality microfilm. 17 pages. Georgia Division of Archives and History. 2000. | 56 KB |
| Standards for the Production and Use of Microfilm – WA | These are minimum technical standards applying to the production, processing, inspection, storage, and handling of microfilm intended to serve as a copy of essential records or as a legal copy of public records required by law to be kept permanently. 39 pages. Div. of Archives and Records Management, Washington. 1998. | 95 KB |
| Targeting and certification of microfilm – SC | Targets are used to identify the records being filmed, to serve as finding aids, to conduct quality tests, and to provide the certification needed to ensure that the film will be accepted in court. This leaflet discusses terms, intent, and purpose. 16 pages. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. | 336 KB |
| Technical Standards for Capturing Microfilm Images from Paper – MI | These standards apply to the conversion of public records from paper to microfilm for the purpose of maintaining official records in a microfilm format. These standards focus primarily on the production of roll microfilm but also apply to other micrographic formats. Michigan Dept. of History, Arts and Libraries. 2005. | 194 KB |
| Technical Standards for Microfilming Digital Records – MI | These standards apply to the conversion of public records from digital image to microfilm for the purpose of maintaining official records in a microfilm format. These standards focus primarily on the production of roll microfilm but also apply to other micrographic formats. Michigan Dept. of History, Arts and Libraries. 2005. | 138 KB |
| Using Microfilm: A Guide for Local Governments | This guide presents microfilming as a tool which, when properly applied, can provide assistance to local governments in the management of their records and information. One of a series of technical bulletins issued by the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, and the National Association of Counties. 24 pages. 1992. | 3379 KB |
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