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Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success

Learn how to select microfilmed newspapers for successful digitization, including determining film format, generation, base, polarity, and evaluating technical criteria. Tips for a successful microfilm to digital project are also provided.

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Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success

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  1. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success OCLC Preservation Service Centers ALA June 25, 2006

  2. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success Kelly Barrall OCLC Brenda Bailey-Hainer Colorado State Library Henry Snyder California Newspaper Project ALA June 25, 2006

  3. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success Kelly Barrall, Manager Quality Assurance Joan DaShiell Sr. Digital Project Manager OCLC Preservation Service Centers ALA June 25, 2006

  4. Selecting Microfilm for a Digital Imaging Project • Microfilm Format • Film Generation • Determining Film Base & Polarity • Evaluating Technical Criteria • Microfilm To Digital – Tips For Success!

  5. Selecting Microfilm for a Digital Imaging Project 1ST Step • Determine format of microfilm available

  6. Microfilm Format Determination 35 mm • Preservation microfilm • Larger frames/smaller reduction • Negative or positive • Acetate ? • Diazo/Vesicular • 16mm/105mm

  7. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success 2nd step • Determine generation of microfilm

  8. Microfilm Generation Determination Archival Master • Camera film • 1st generation • Negative • Acetate ?

  9. Microfilm Generation Determination Print Master • Duplicate copy • 2nd generation • Negative • Acetate ?

  10. Microfilm Generation Determination Service Copy • Duplicate copy • 3rd generation • Positive • Heavily used • Acetate ?

  11. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success 3rd step • Determine base and polarity of microfilm

  12. Microfilm Base Determination Acetate or Polyester Base?What’s better for digitization?

  13. Microfilm Base Determination Acetate • Deteriorating • Warped • Brittle • Curled • Dirty • Scratched • Unstable • Easy to tear

  14. Steps to determine if your film is acetate VIEW CURL SMELL Unwind several inches of film: acetate film tends to curl across the width of the film Acetic Acid is vinegar. Acetate film that is deteriorating most likely will have a vinegar odor present. Hold a wound reel of film up to the light: If opaque (light will not pass through it) the film is most likely acetate

  15. Microfilm Base Determination Polyester • Preservation • Stable • Durable

  16. Microfilm Polarity Determination Negative or Positive Polarity?What’s better for digitization?

  17. Microfilm Format Determination Positive • Usually 3rd generation • Lower resolution • More scratched

  18. Example: Heavily scratched positive microfilm Line that separates columns Heavyscratches

  19. Microfilm Format Determination Negative • Usually less noise • Better contrast for text and optical character recognition (OCR)

  20. Example: digitized from negative microfilm

  21. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success 4th step • Evaluate technical criteria

  22. Microfilm Technical criteria Reduction ratio • Newspapers filmed at 20:1 or lower are optimal • Newspapers filmed at a higher resolution could contain small text that is not legible

  23. Microfilm Technical Criteria Resolution • Focus achieved at the time of capture, measured with a 100X microscope • Poor resolution = fuzzy text = poor OCR

  24. Microfilm Technical Criteria Density Range • Film created to meet preservation guidelines • Film too light or too dark = poor OCR • Film with uneven lighting = poor OCR

  25. Example: Uneven lighting – lost text Lost text

  26. Review Steps 1 - 4 • Microfilm Format—35mm • Microfilm Generation—archival, print master, service copy • Microfilm Base & Polarity—acetate vs. polyester; negative vs. positive • Microfilm Technical Criteria—reduction, resolution & density

  27. Tips for a successful microfilm to digital project Know your microfilm • Quantity • Quality • Contents

  28. Tips for a successful microfilm to digital project Quantity • Frame count = 1up/2up • Targets • ISE intentional second exposures • Duplicates

  29. Tips for a successful microfilm to digital project Quality • Poor original • Poor filming • Poor condition of the film

  30. Tips for a successful microfilm to digital project Contents • Newspaper format • Size of the paper, including supplements and full page spreads • Was it filmed bound? • Title changes, should it be treated as one?

  31. Review tips for success! • Quantity – how many images do you really have • Quality – poor quality film = poor quality images • Contents – bound newspapers and title changes

  32. Microfilmed Newspapers: Selection for Digitization Success Microfilm to digital

  33. Digitization and imaging options • Duplicate to polyester • Image enhancement • Dynamic threshold adjustment

  34. Questions? Kelly Barrall/Joan DaShiell1-800-773 7222

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