Dear Colleagues and Michael P. Martin,

A subject dear to my heart and one which I have yet to feel totally
comfortable with regarding Commercial Storage providers meeting or
attempting to meet the microfilm standards for the short or long term
storage of microfilm.

I would suggest to anyone contemplating sending microfilm in whatever format
e.g. 16 or 35 mm roll, microfiche etc to a Commercial Storage provider they
need to provide a copy of the storage requirements for microfilm as set out
in various National and International microfilm standards and ask for a
quotation based on that requirement.

Once you receive assurance that the criteria can be met do an onsite
inspection to verify that the environment provided meets the standards
criterion.

Magnetic media is managed in a totally different manner by Commercial
Storage providers as in general [but not in all circumstances] they act as
offsite backup locations for magnetic media on a transient basis e.g. daily,
weekly or whatever period backup magnetic media is stored in an appropriate
temperature and secure environment until the magnetic media is called upon
by the client to run the next version of the daily, weekly or whatever
period backup onto the same media on a rotational basis.

Microfilm is a totally different media product with different storage needs
to that of magnetic media which requires specific temperature, humidity and
lack of UV light for its successful short, medium or long term management
and thus requires the client and the Commercial Storage providers to be
aware of, and be able to provide for microfilms specific needs.

Regards, Laurie

NOTE: I will see all [or at least some] of you at the a.k.a. Classification
and Retention and Disposal Modules software from Synercon Management
Consulting stand on the  Chicago 2005 Exhibition floor.

MORE IMPORTANTLY: Where is the Listserv Party before the big event? Please,
if I have missed the details being circulated regarding the venue I
apologise, as I have been otherwise distracted with personal matters over
the past month and a half.

Mr Daniel Lawrance [Laurie] Varendorff, ARMA
Member of the Western Australian Governments - Digital Records Working Group
(DRWG).
Specialist Technical Writer on Records and Information Management (RIM) and
related subjects, available for hire.
Published Articles available @ http://www.microfilm.net.au/articles.shtml
A Records Management Professional, and proud of the fact!
Consultant/Trainer/Tutor/Presenter: Records and Information Management
Imaging and Micrographic Specialist: 31 years experience
You may care to visit our web site @  www.records-management.com.au

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