Posts Tagged ‘Microfilm’
Jobs Well Done
Our week ended on a high note this past Friday. Not only were three Crowley Imaging employees singled out (tripled out?) at the division’s quarterly meeting, we also received a client letter that was glowing in its commendation for one of Crowley’s senior technicians. While every employee is critical to our ongoing success, this presents the ideal opportunity to introduce you to four of Crowley’s valued team members. Elias Flores (right) has been with Crowley Imaging since 1992. For the…
What I Never Thought I’d Know About The Imaging Industry
When I was in college studying for my communications degree, I never imagined that I would ever have to know the difference between 16mm and 35mm microfilm; 300dpi and 600dpi resolution; or flatbed vs overhead capture. Then I got a job at The Crowley Company. In just a few short years, I’ve learned a lot about the imaging industry and the people who make it their job to preserve and share digital and analog content. It’s the people that I’m…
Crowley Imaging and Quantum Processing: The Hybrid Approach
If you have a collection of microfilm or microfiche which needs to be digitized, then you’re probably familiar with the standard options: purchase a scanner and perform the digitization in-house or outsource the project by sending the film or fiche to a conversion service bureau, like Crowley Imaging. What many don’t know is that there is a third option, available exclusively through The Crowley Company, which we call the hybrid approach. What is the Hybrid Approach? The hybrid approach consists of two…
Parts & Microfilm: The Fourth Piece of Crowley’s 360⁰ Solution
We previously wrote a blog post about Crowley’s technical support services – the third of our four solution categories. Our intention was to quickly follow with the fourth category, parts and microfilm, but developing our new website took priority. Now that we’ve launched the new site (take a peek!), we’re on track to delve into this often overlooked, yet vital, piece of the pie. Parts Crowley’s international network of partners and our own extensive manufacturing capabilities…
Digitizing Presidential Collections for UVA Miller Center
The University of Virginia (UVA) Miller Center was recently awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to digitize Presidential collections and make them available to the public online. Part of this grant provides the necessary funding to develop a website called Connecting Presidential Collections (CPC).[1] The CPC site is intended to become a central searchable repository for digitized Presidential collections. Already, the site hosts digitized images from over 80 collections. In addition to developing this site, the…
Mold: How to Protect Vital Collections
I recently came across this article in the Shreveport Times detailing the growing problem of mold (pun intended) in the Shreve Memorial Library. This is one example of a common concern amongst libraries and archives. How do you keep your collections safe from mold and other forms of erosion and aging? As we’ve discussed in a previous blog, microfilm is the longest surviving media and can last up to 500 years when stored properly. But don’t overlook that last part…
Scanner Comparisons Lead to Measurable ROI
Two weeks ago, I read an insightful blog post by ECM Connection executive editor Ken Congdon. The topic was how to manage end-of-life scanning hardware. It was written on the premise that as technology advances, older scanners – which are still productive but are no longer produced – may outlive their spare parts inventory and maintenance options. The article contained three main bits of advice: don’t roll the dice; plan for the inevitable; and consider leasing and outsourcing as a viable option….
Patron vs. Production Scanners: Which Type do You Need?
Our favorite kinds of blogs to write are those sparked by user feedback. Last week, we received an email from a client who had purchased Mekel Technology microfilm and microfiche scanners over 12 years ago and is now looking to purchase a new unit (a testament to the Mekels’ long life span; typical industry turnover is estimated at 3-5 years). He saw that we also offer the UScan+ Universal Film (UF) series scanner and wanted to know if that model…
Vintage Viewing: Microform Reader Printers in the Home
We recently spoke to a Crowley Imaging client who had a microform reader printer at home for the sole recreational purpose of reading old/out-of-print science fiction on microfiche. (For the layperson, a reader printer is a device used to magnify and view microfilm, microfiche, or other type of microform.) As we typically work in the corporate/public domain, this personal use intrigued us. How many others use microform at home? For what purpose? Where do they get the media? And the…
Microfilm and the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen
Writing images to microfilm is not an unusual request for Crowley Imaging. It is unusual, however, to get a request to write only 15 images to microfilm. Five times. In two days. From five different people. In five different locations. We asked a few questions, did a little research and found that the request was part of an international scavenger hunt that raises awareness for charity: GISHWHES (aka the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Even Seen). It is,…