Preservation Microfilming

This guide presents information on planning and managing microfilming projects, incorporating co-operative programmes, service bureaux and the impact of automation for library staff with deteriorating collections.

Covers types of microform; establishing a preservation microfilming project; selecting and preparing material, including standards for subsequent digitisation; quality control; bibliographic control; storage of masters; management of existing microform collections, including staff and user education and disaster plans.

Libraries can afford to conserve only very small numbers of their deteriorating materials because of the enormous costs involved. Transferring materials to alternate formats is the major means available for preserving the intellectual content of significant numbers of documents. Microfilming remains the only proven and reliable means of creating surrogates for library materials. This document discusses the selection of material, preparation of material for microfilming, quality control for preservation microfilm, procedures for bibliographic control, and the storage of microform masters.