What Is Microfilm?
Microfilm is a document preservation format that is commonly used in academic- and research-related fields, in order to save pertinent information without taking up a lot of storage space. Using a process similar to film photography, microfilming captures miniature images of documents onto film, reducing their size without losing the information. Microfilms can be viewed on a device similar to those used in viewing slide photography, which zooms the image to its original size or larger.
History
John Benjamin Dancer is the first inventor to be associated with microphotography, using a process he began implementing in 1839. This crude technology wasn't initially considered a viable form of document preservation. In 1851, however, microphotography was reintroduced at The Great Exhibition in London and it was then that the process was popularized and reimplemented as a viable form of document preservation. The microform process came into prominent use between 1920 and 1936, as research and academic libraries, like the National Agriculture Library and the Library of Congress, began to microfilm books, manuscripts, academic materials and dissertations, among other professional materials. In 1925, the first commercial microfilm was created after a patent was issued to George McCarthy. Kodak bought the invention in 1928. The American Library Association officially endorsed the use of microforms for document preservation in 1936 and by 1938, the New York Times began using the technique.
Identification
Microfilm is a form of document preservation that produces a miniature reproduction of an original-sized document. On average, microfilm reduces an image to 1/25th its original size and all types of documents, from newspapers and essays to blue prints and engineering blueprints, can be saved onto these films. Microfilm is a component of Microforms, which is the description given to this type of analog document preservation and is usually related to both microfiche and microcards. Microfilm is usually stored on standard photography reels or cassettes and can be viewed using microfilm readers that look similar to computer monitors. One roll of standard 16 mm microfilm can hold up to 2,400 standard, 11 by 14 inch letter-size document images.
Benefits
The most noted benefits of microfilm are the ability to limit the storage space for documents and the cost reduction of producing such documents. The first microfilms reduced documents to as small as 3 percent their original size, which experts claim reduced storage needs by up to 95 percent. Microfilming also reduces the price of reproduction, because the cost of printed paper far outweighs those of microfilm. Other benefits of microfilming for document preservation are the life expectancy of these documents. The modern process of microfilming ensures document preservation for up to 500 years. Because microfilm is an actual photograph of an original document, the misinterpretation that comes with traditional forms of transcription are eliminated. It is also much easier to access and view a microfilmed document, as the only equipment you need is a microscopic lens.
Time Frame
In the early days, microfilms weren't a particularly evergreen technology and were highly susceptible to ruin within a short period of time. Originally printed on nitrate film, microfilms were highly flammable, which tended to be hazardous to research and professional institutions. In the 1930s microfilm was printed, almost exclusively, on cellulose acetate. This process diminished the fire risk, but posed new problems, which included decay and fading if the microfilm wasn't stored properly. Microfilm produced on a cellulose acetate base could result in chemical decay and shrinking to the film itself and fading would occur if the microfilm was left under light for long periods of time. The first types of film had a maximum life expectancy of 50 years and this was only in perfect conditions. According to the New World Encyclopedia, the modern process of making microfilm uses silver halide dye and hard gelatin on a polyester base, which has a life expectancy of 500 years. This new process runs a much smaller risk of decay and fading, though moist climates can cause damage to the gelatin.
Potential
Because of modern digital technologies, the use of microfilm in academic and research archiving has dropped considerably, but the demand for microfilm still exists. The United States expects that their 2010 and 2011 Censuses will be archived using microfilming techniques and many European countries still opt for microfilm over newer digital archiving systems as well. Microfilm, itself, is also finding ways to grow and advance in the modern market with new developments in color microfilm and conversion products. Microfilm is now finding its way into the digital market as well, using new technologies to convert microfilm to be used on the Internet and in shared networking systems.
Tags: document preservation, form document, form document preservation, life expectancy, original size, cellulose acetate, decay fading