Re: Storing microfilm Mary Massey 02 May 2006 13:45 UTC
We house our microfilm in cabinets also. We have some traditional cabinets and we have a new "archway" type that have drawers which pull toward the center of the walkway and read top to bottom. Since our periodicals are alphabetically arranged, we do the same for our microfilm. We will be adding some notes on our journal shelves to indicate when microfilm is part of the run of holdings, so patrons will be cued to look elsewhere for more formats of the same title. It does keep the film pretty dust free to house them in cabinets. Do be sure that rubber bands are not on film. Other places I have worked have had evidence of chemical reactions between the bands and film, some making it inevitable to order new film. When I arrived in August at ERAU, the crew was already pulling rubber bands from the film as I had suggested at my interview. There are acid-free strips to hold the film in place, or you can go without anything. Some places I have worked have used the boxes which are a pain to house and use without deterioration, or placed on open shelves where they are subject to mold, dust and other particulates - upkeep is not friendly. Here, we go through the film cabinets a couple of times a year to spot troubles (e.g. torn boxes, damp housing, stray rubber bands, improper reshelving, etc.). LC recommends cleaning of the film every three years, but this has been a problem staff-wise for all of the places I have worked. I am hoping to do a cleaning project here next year after this year's weeding project. I am checking into necessary equipment and staff needed. BTW, in doing some background reading for our weeding project, I ran across a chapter called "Development and management of microform serial collections," which is concisely covered on p.19-26 of Serials Collection Development : Choices and Strategies, edited by Sul H. Lee. It is a Pierian Press publication from 1981. Don't laugh about the age of the material, because the technology hasn't changed much over the years and this material covers the basics of your question. I'm sure there are other books devoted to microform collections that would be more in depth, but this can give you some quick answers. Good luck on the decisions. Tinker Massey Serials Librarian Hunt Library Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Mary.Massey@erau.edu -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Lucy Crews Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 4:56 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] Storing microfilm We have had over 1000 reels of microfilm added through a history grant over the last two years. Initially we put them on the shelves alphabetical by title as all other serials are currently arranged in our room. However, we have these particular films barcoded and a call number assigned so they can be scanned into in-house use before reshelving, thus allowing us stats on this collection. I am in the process of purchasing storage boxes that hold 5 or 8 reels of film, so that titles with multiple pieces can be boxed and stored more neatly on the shelves. I have two debates going with other staff : 1. Leave the title arrangement or rearrange by call number. ( We do have students who wonder why the film is not by call number since there is one in the catalog. ) 2. If we rearrange by call number, would it make since to put multiple titles in a storage box ? We have many titles that have only one reel, or just two. Rather than have so many loose reels I wanted to combine a range of call numbers in a box. That way everything is in a box on the shelves. (Easier for moving and cleaning too.) What are others doing ? How are microfilm collections stored in your library ? Have you encountered problems with any of the above methods ? Thanks for your input. Your advice is appreciated. Lucy A. Crews Catalog / Serials Librarian Grafton Library Mary Baldwin College Staunton, Virginia 24401 Ph : 540-887-7088 Fax : 540-887-7297 Email: LCREWS@MBC.EDU Access, Service, Knowledge : ASK@Grafton Library