Re: Microfilm making a comeback?

I completely supported the idea of archival Micro-text on a long lasting
medium.

The only technology needed is magnification.
And it is less susceptible to post publication modification.

Perhaps, laser etching on metal or stone would be good.

Todd Puccio

-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
[mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Laval Hunsucker
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 12:17 PM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Microfilm making a comeback?

Thanks. But about that categorical statement :  "Microfilm 
is still the longest lasting archival medium known to man 
with a shelf-life of up to 500 years if kept in optimal 
conditions." in the text you point to.

Not to be picky or anything,  but . . .

Is paper no longer known to man, then ?  I've handled lots 
of texts, whole codices, on paper ( much ) older than 500 
years, whether printed or manuscript. Still complete, clear, 
supple, strong -- in excellent condition.

Not to mention parchment, papyri, clay tablets ( think of 
Ashurbanipal's archive, still in significant part preseved in 
the British Museum -- but that's relatively young, at ca. 
630 B.C. ).

How about a shelf-life of up to 5,000 years, folks ??  -- No 
sweat !

Early 9th century A.D. ?  Alright :  
http://www.mmdc.nl/static/media/1/73/UBU%20PsalterU83r.jpg

4th century ? OK :  
http://www.dradio.de/images/46938/landscape/

13th century B.C. anyone ? Here you are :  
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Papyrus_Ani_curs_hiero.jp
g
( looks to be in pretty good shape, to me ). 

Or a hundred or so years older, in another medium :  
http://tiny.cc/gmezh

How about the 26th century B.C. ?  Sure, not a problem :  
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Sumerian_26th_c_Adab.jpg

And believe me :  all these things didn't have to be and were 
*not*  "kept in optimal conditions". But are still easily 
readable. ( OK, OK -- after you've first learned the language 
concerned ;  but, as far as that goes :  what will have become 
of English a couple of thousand years from now ? )

Just trying to keep things a little in perspective :-).


- Laval Hunsucker
  Breukelen, Nederland




----- Original Message ----
From: B.G. Sloan <bgsloan2_at_YAHOO.COM>
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 4:42:57 PM
Subject: [NGC4LIB] Microfilm making a comeback?

Interesting web page touting microfilm for the preservation of digital
content.

See: http://bit.ly/d0ZxBZ

Bernie Sloan