Felicia:
Most states have guidelines or standards for scanning long-term/archival government records that includes migration requirements for the digital images.  While microfilm/fiche can have a 500 year life span (if processing, storage, and film manufacture requirements are met), it is not the "only" format considered suitable for long-term or archival records.  Check to see if Maine has standards or guidelines for scanning records and the storage/retention of digital images.  Also, check Maine laws for use of images in lieu of paper for legal and other purposes.  If the attorney insists that microfilm is the only format acceptable for long-term records, then consider conversion of scanned images directly to microfilm during the scanning process.  The film could be retained for preservation purposes and the images used for access.  If done up front, the cost of the microfilm process is considerably less than filming from the originals after they have been scanned.

Ginny Jones 
(Virginia A. Jones, CRM, FAI) 
Records Manager 
Information Technology Division 
Newport News Dept. of Public Utilities 
Newport News, VA 
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