The case for Microfilm! The State of Oregon
“Historic newspapers supply vital evidence of our history and culture and are used by students, scholars, historians, arts groups, businesses, urban planners, genealogists and others. These primary source materials provide a window into the life of local Oregon communities a century or more ago, covering early environmental preservation, industry, agriculture, urban development, Native American and race relations, the establishment of the state and more.”
I couldn’t have said it much better myself. The case for preservation of newspapers and their use and importance couldnt have been better articulated than this brief quote from folks in Oregon.
With the current clammor for digitization of microfilm images running rampant accross the country, most institutions and government entities have lost sight of the fact that digitization really doesnt preserve history properly. After all is an electronic file capable of many problems including technology changes and obsolescense, and corruption of files even though they may be in redundant forms. It is however, a wonderful advancement in the access of that recorded history.
The wonder of sitting at home over a morning coffee and sifting thru the online images of your family’s history or a front page of a newspaper printed long ago is amazing!
Way cool! I have done that myself. But when newspapers are filmed and preserved on microfilm for estimates of upward of 500 years, it is truly saved for many uses including, digitization for ease of access.
The forethought of that step (microfilming) to preserve is characterized by the millions of hits on our sister site, NewspaperArchive.com. By that access and online availability, historians, schools, families and individuals have instant views of our past.
All because we viewed the importance and used microfilm to properly preserve that paper. It is stable and enduring and despite some that think that microfilm is going away. It simply remains the best format to ensure our history.
