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> Statements about the length of time any document will survive are highly > subjective and the extract quoted from the article in the Museums Journal > is not intended as a guideline. Archivists and librarians will have to > take individual circumstances into account when deciding on the > desirability or otherwise of embarking on a scanning programme. The > issues to be considered include the material to be scanned, its physical > condition, its size, the type of scanner and the type, and length, of the > scanning process being contemplated. (Many scanning operations involve a > pre-scan as well as the final version, which lengthens the time of > exposure). BS 5454 (2000) 13.2. indicates the effects of light and from > the data given it is possible to calculate the damage likely to be caused. > Timothy Vitale's article is authoritative and convincing but it does > indicate that those in charge of scanning operations need to know what > type of machine is being used and how long the process will take. The > conclusion suggests the need for caution in relation to a number of > issues, particularly the condition of the document, involved with any > copying programme. > > ---------- > From: Leonard Will[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Reply To: Leonard Will > Sent: 05 October 2000 14:30 > To: Archives-nra discussion list > Subject: Light exposure when scanning > > An article in this month's _Museums journal_ [1] contains the statement: > > "According to the Public Record Office (PRO), the bright light > required for scanning can reduce a document's life by 50 to 100 > years." > > I had previously been guided by a well-documented research report by > Timothy Vitale [2], whose conclusions start: > > "The claims made by some experts on the intensity of flatbed scans > are overstated. Most scans will be from 1-15 lx-hrs, which is a > minuscule fraction of the useful life of a document or artwork." > > Can anyone resolve the apparent inconsistency of these two statements? > > [1] "What the papers don't say" by Toby Butler. _Museums journal_, > vol.100, no.10, October 2000, p.14-15. > > [2] "Light levels used in modern flatbed scanners" by Timothy Vitale. > _RLG DigiNews_, vol.2, no.5, 15th October 1998. > <http://www.rlg.org/preserv/diginews/diginews2-5.html#technical> > > > > Leonard Will > -- > Willpower Information (Partners: Dr Leonard D Will, Sheena E Will) > Information Management Consultants Tel: +44 (0)20 8372 0092 > 27 Calshot Way, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 7BQ, UK. Fax: +44 (0)20 8372 0094 > [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] > ---------------- <URL:http://www.willpowerinfo.co.uk/> ----------------- > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%