The choice of microfilm as a preservation solution ensures that the images of printed materials will be adequately preserved in the long term. Extending into the next millennium and beyond, available microform technology will remain constant, thereby permitting research and facilitating the transfer of images from microfilm to any other media at a later date. As a preservation medium, microfilm is inexpensive and durable, and the benchmarks for creating, processing, storing and reading microfilm are well established. The equipment required to read microfilm is not prone to obsolescence and in fact, all that is needed to read microfilm is a light source and a lens.

Preservation Microfilming -
Preservation microfilming, as defined in the national standards, has some unique features and benefits that distinguish it from all other kinds of source document filming. The primary purpose of preservation microfilming is to provide replacements for materials that are written, or printed, on substandard or deteriorating paper. Materials that fall under this category are newspapers, and valuable archives and
books. The microformed contents will then be available to scholastic and research communities far into the future. What separates preservation microfilming from records management microfilming is the intention to create a permanent replacement.

Records Management Microfilming -
SMI also provides document/digital file microfilming services for our business customers that translate into cost effective solutions for archiving large concentrations of paperwork. In today's business climate of corporate accountability, it is essential that all paper documents and digital files be backed-up on microfilm in order to fulfill, in years to come, potentially critical business functions. Any document retention solution that does not encompass microfilming will render a company susceptible to potential legal and civil penalties. If you are a service bureau interested in partnering with SMI under Kodak's Reference Archive Services Network (RASN) program please click here.

Southwest Micropublishing can provide the perfect turnkey solution to all your document conversion needs. Our staff of experts is dedicated to providing cost-effective, timely and accurate imaging services to all of our customers. Whether it's a small onetime project or a large, long-term endeavor, SMI welcomes the opportunity to bid on any of your microfilming requirements. Please contact us toll-free at 1-800-367-1273 or by e-mail at: sales@swmicropublishing.com.