[Publib] RE: Microfilm reader

[Tatar, Becky]

Last year we purchased an ST200 Microfilm Scanner from RMC Imaging.
When we saw the demonstration, we showed them the worst micarofilm we
had - old newspaper, old census, and two German language newspapers that
utilized that Gothic German type of typeface, so the ink was very heavy
and black.  The prints turned out great!  There is a separate scanner,
requiring a monitor, which does fiche and 35mm film.  Many of the
problems on the microforms can be taken care of on the scanner by
itself.  The computer program, which allows you to scan off the scanner
monitor or the film itself, also requires a computer and monitor.  You
can use one monitor and toggle back and forth between the scanner and
the computer program, but we thought it would be easier for our patrons
to have two screens to work from.  The computer program can clean up
more of the film's problems, and also allow you to print, e-mail, burn a
cd, or save to a flashdrive.  

The one problem is that the program can only handle the protocol for 1
e-mail program.  This means that whoever is using the film and wants to
send himself an e-mail must do it from the set e-mail system.  We set
ours at Hotmail.  So, if the microfilm user doesn't have a Hotmail
account, the computer internet is set to open up to the Hotmail page.
This is basically an annoyance for the staff, rather than patrons.  The
learning curve on the computer scanner is rather high, and with the
scanner, 2 monitors, a keyboard, mouse and computer all on a table, the
whole setup looks rather intimidating.  This fall, I'm offering a
program on learning to use the scanner for our genealogy patrons.  The
staff who do genealogy work really love this.  Hope this helps

Becky Tatar
Periodicals/Audiovisuals
Aurora Public Library
1 E. Benton Street
Aurora, IL   60505
Phone: 630-264-4100
FAX: 630-896-3209
bltata at aurora.lib.il.us
www.aurora.lib.il.us