[Genealib] Looking to the Future

Sat Feb 28 17:05:59 EST 2009

To echo Paul's thoughts, you will find the trend of the "next best"
format has always been to produce media with a shorter shelf life than
the previous.

For any item, a print version will outlast a microform version, and a
microform version will outlast the digital version in reasonable
conditions.  Records (LPs) have a longer shelf life than tape, and tape
lasts longer than any digital format in place today.  This is also true
to some extent with photographs; those older color photographs will fade
alarmingly fast, while the black and white images can stay timeless.

The hope is that those in charge of our digital legacy will be aware
enough to transfer the files to new media before too much degradation
occurs (hence restarting the time bomb).  "Digital archives" is an
oxymoron.  If any institution is "archiving" items only digitally, say
goodbye to that collection unless they are incredibly steadfast in their
backup plan AND incredibly lucky.  The concept that we will no longer
need books or even microfilm in the future is just as preposterous as
the concept of a paperless society (I am sure you remember that from
your library school days).  

More to the point of the original question, I believe in 20-30 years our
library will have access to more databases with digital images of
original records, we will have many more books, and we will still have
microfilm.  The ratio of print to digital will change due to the
potential for digital to grow incredibly fast and also the potential to
completely crash.  We are already seeing restrictions within our system
on expanding the number of public computers based on bandwidth issues.
Microfilm reader/printer/scanners will continue to be costly and may
become scarce in the future.

If you are only interested in access, digital sources, minus the
technical headaches, are the best thing since sliced bread.  If you are
more concerned with having a viable collection when the Great
Electromagnetic Event of 2048 hits or when the Director says we have to
slash 60% of our budget and all of your subscriptions are indefinitely
cancelled, it's best to diversify, hedge your bets, and be thoughtful
about every move you make.  

One problem with the purchase of large microfilm sets is Will this be up
on Footnote.com or FamilySearch.org next year?  That is not a bad
problem to have if you have properly defined your collection and your
mission.  If you have anything unique in your collection, treat it with
the upmost respect.  Use other people's money whenever possible
(monetary donations) and have individuals/organizations donate the items
you do not feel you can justify purchasing with your institution's funds
(material donations).  Beg (for donations), Borrow (subscribe to
Ancestry LE, etc.), and Steal (from accounts that never seem to spend
all of their materials budget).

If you are part of an organization that handles "digital archives," keep
yourself up to date on the technology and make sure to backup/transfer
files before they degrade (the old rule of thumb was every 5 years, I'm
not sure what it might be now).  I was in Dr. Kenneth Lavender's
Preservation class at the University of North Texas when he received the
question, What is the most stable environment for information?  Tape,
microfilm, digital?  The answer, pencil on paper.

David Allan Hardin, MSLIS  

Genealogy Librarian Supervisor

Plano Public Library System

2501 Coit Road

Plano, Texas  75075

972.769.4443

davidhar at plano.gov

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of
SUBVETPAUL at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 11:39 AM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: Re: [Genealib] Looking to the Future

In a message dated 02/27/2009 8:38:40 AM Central Standard Time,
daysa at oplin.org writes:

	Hello

	I am working on a Librarianship course called Developing a
Successful Genealogy Collection.   I am hoping to get some input from
this list. 

	My question is what do you think your library will look like in
20 or 30 years?  Will it still maintain the same ratio of books to
digital sources?  Computers are a wonderful thing, but will the need for
them to view more sources become a problem?  Is microfilm here to stay
and will you need more readers?

	Any input will be appreciated.

	Kathie Fortner

A subject of interest to Archivists, and Historians. 

First in my opinion, electronic storage for long term storage and
recovery, represents a disaster. Virtually all electronic media, while
being very efficient as tools, are transient.  

The equipment is continually being redesigned and in the process older
equipment, which has hours of stored material can no longer be accessed.

Think of electronic programs and equipment having a short shelf life,
say one or two generations.  Hard copy archival books, well distributed,
represent long term archival storage.

Computers and related equipment are great tools, but long term storage
should always be in books and in libraries.

Paul W. Wittmer

subvetpaul at aol.com 

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