On 22/07/03, Walter Cybulski wrote: > Is microfilm supposed to replace the original or serve as an access > medium? This is the same question as is raised by a digital transfer of audio or film material. I think it can both act as an access medium and as an emergency reserve if the originals do get lost. The microfilm or digital version can also be duplicated relatively easily so a copy can be provided for another library or institute, If there is a copy of your colour microfilm, digital audio, etc stored in New Zealand, then at least there is something left if the library gets bombed, looted, or attacked by accountants. Not as good as the original, but better than nothing. The technical problem is that digital transfers, although easy to copy, are much more fragile than microfilm because of the complexity of the formats. Regards -- Don Cox [log in to unmask]