Preservation

PRESERconVersATION

The Microform Family

Hi! Norman the Australian monograph here again. Thanks for joining us on PRESERconVersATION. This week we have a very special guest... Methuselah the master negative, welcome Methuselah.

Hi Norman. Thanks for having me on the show.

Methuselah, you're here today to talk about your microform family.

Sure am! I'm sure that everyone will be interested to know all about us. We're the ones responsible for long term preservation of the information in books you know.

Yes. Can you tell us your reaction to the rumour that you are unfriendly?

Some people don't like our branch of the information family because we don't look as nice as our paper counterparts and we are not as glamorous as our electronic cousins. Some people have even hinted we are a little bit unfriendly!!!!! But we really are very important!!!!

Although often perceived as unsavoury characters, we really are quite the opposite. When conservators cannot revive a document we come to the rescue. Although our electronic cousins are much friendlier, we have a much longer lifespan which makes us most suitable for long-term preservation. In fact, if processed and stored correctly, I can live for several hundred years. Not bad for a bit of plastic!!!!

Methuselah, would you like to introduce your family?

Certainly.

I am the 1st generation master negative. I live in cold storage and am the one who will last for several hundred years.

This is my 2nd generation printing master. She produces further generations of film.

And this is my 3rd generation service copy. He's the one you use in the reading room.

That's quite an impressive line up. Are you microforms easy to use?

With proper informational and directional targets we can be quite easy to use but of course we will never be as fast as our electronic cousins when it comes to retrieving information.

What preservation needs do you have?

Just like other parts of the collection we will last longer if people look after us.

If possible remove any rubber bands or paper ties used for restraining purposes. These materials are not archival and irritate our emulsion. Remove us from metal canisters and store us in normal cardboard boxes so we don't get contaminated by rust. Always store us on plastic spools. Metal spools are cold and can rust.

Thanks Methuselah.

No problem Norman, thank-you for giving me the opportunity.

That's all for tonight folks. See you next time and remember.... information needs preservation.

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