Selecting Microfilm for Digitization

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Microfilmed Newspapers Selection for
Digitization Success
OCLC Preservation Service Centers
ALA June 25, 2006
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Microfilmed Newspapers Selection for
Digitization Success
Kelly Barrall OCLC Brenda Bailey-Hainer Colorado
State Library Henry Snyder California Newspaper
Project
ALA June 25, 2006
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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
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Selecting Microfilm for a Digital Imaging Project

• Microfilm Format
• Film Generation
• Determining Film Base Polarity
• Evaluating Technical Criteria
• Microfilm To Digital Tips For Success!

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Selecting Microfilm for a Digital Imaging Project

• 1ST Step
• Determine format of microfilm available

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Microfilm Format Determination

• 35 mm
• Preservation microfilm
• Larger frames/smaller reduction
• Negative or positive
• Acetate ?
• Diazo/Vesicular
• 16mm/105mm

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Microfilmed Newspapers Selection for
Digitization Success

• 2nd step
• Determine generation of microfilm

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Microfilm Generation Determination

• Archival Master
• Camera film
• 1st generation
• Negative
• Acetate ?

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Microfilm Generation Determination

• Print Master
• Duplicate copy
• 2nd generation
• Negative
• Acetate ?

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Microfilm Generation Determination

• Service Copy
• Duplicate copy
• 3rd generation
• Positive
• Heavily used
• Acetate ?

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Microfilmed Newspapers Selection for
Digitization Success

• 3rd step
• Determine base and polarity of microfilm

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Acetate or Polyester Base?Whats better for
digitization?
Microfilm Base Determination
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Acetate
Microfilm Base Determination

• Deteriorating
• Warped
• Brittle
• Curled

• Dirty
• Scratched
• Unstable
• Easy to tear

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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
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Polyester
Microfilm Base Determination

• Preservation
• Stable
• Durable

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Negative or Positive Polarity?Whats better for
digitization?
Microfilm Polarity Determination
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Positive
Microfilm Format Determination

• Usually 3rd generation
• Lower resolution
• More scratched

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Example Heavily scratched positive microfilm
Line that separates columns
Heavyscratches
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Negative
Microfilm Format Determination

• Usually less noise
• Better contrast for text and optical character
  recognition (OCR)

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Example digitized from negative microfilm
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Microfilmed Newspapers Selection for
Digitization Success

• 4th step
• Evaluate technical criteria

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Microfilm Technical criteria

• Reduction ratio
• Newspapers filmed at 201 or lower are optimal
• Newspapers filmed at a higher resolution could
  contain small text that is not legible

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Microfilm Technical Criteria

• Resolution
• Focus achieved at the time of capture, measured
  with a 100X microscope
• Poor resolution fuzzy text poor OCR

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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

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Example Uneven lighting lost text
Lost text
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Review Steps 1 - 4

• Microfilm Format35mm
• Microfilm Generationarchival, print master,
  service copy
• Microfilm Base Polarityacetate vs. polyester
  negative vs. positive
• Microfilm Technical Criteriareduction,
  resolution density

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Tips for a successful microfilm to digital
project

• Know your microfilm
• Quantity
• Quality
• Contents

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Tips for a successful microfilm to digital
project

• Quantity
• Frame count 1up/2up
• Targets
• ISE intentional second exposures
• Duplicates

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Tips for a successful microfilm to digital
project

• Quality
• Poor original
• Poor filming
• Poor condition of the film

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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?

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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

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Microfilmed Newspapers Selection for
Digitization Success

• Microfilm to digital

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Digitization and imaging options

• Duplicate to polyester
• Image enhancement
• Dynamic threshold adjustment

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Questions?

• Kelly Barrall/Joan DaShiell1-800-773 7222