The German Digital Library is using a digitization technique that currently is processing 1,216 pages per hour and to date has already scanned almost 45,000 works.  Clearly, time is the only issue in their process and reports say the first trial version might hit the web in 2011.  The library expects to have 5.5 million books digitized within the next decade.  Google, on the other hand, has reportedly scanned over ten million books as of October 9, 2009 (www.googleblog.blogspot.com).  Can the German Digital Library offer any real competition for Google?  Should they simply allow Google to take over their works as well?

It’s hard to say, at this point.  While The German Digital Library has many factors playing against their cause, including cost and accessibility, the project would be a huge win and progressive step for the library.  At the root of it all, specialized document scanning services offer the ability to digitally preserve everything from rare books and folios to unique local community records preserving our thoughts, images and words for the future.  Be it Google or the German Digital Library, the idea is exquisite.

To learn more about how libraries can employ the very same type of digital conversion techniques, check out the document scanning services offered by microMEDIA.

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Digital Conversion To Help Germany Compete with Google? was posted at Imaging Services Blog. | http://www.imagingservices.com/blog

What if there was a better way to save these memories for future generations?

Digital conversion archives your family documents, photos, records and ledgers by scanning traditional paper documents and converting them into digital files.  Digital imaging and archiving solutions guarantee the existence of our histories beyond what paper and ink can provide.

Recently in Bangor, Maine, the Bangor Public Library requested residents to submit family photos, documents, records and journals.  The Bangor Public Library is hoping to collect these items for digital conversion. The digital files will then be housed in the library’s online archives and hopefully added to the Maine Memory Network.

This document scanning process will make important historical information available to scholars, researchers and future generations.  Given the popularity of online genealogy sites and television shows like “Who Do You Think You Are,” this is a perfect idea to encourage genealogical studies, and a great way to ensure the preservation of fragile paper materials far into the future.

What do you think?  Would you be interested in the digital conversion of your family artifacts for future generations?  Post your comments below!

Learn more about digital conversion and other document and imaging scanning services offered by microMEDIA.

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Digital Conversion of Your Family Heritage was posted at Imaging Services Blog. | http://www.imagingservices.com/blog

A. 10 million four-drawer filing cabinets

B. 12 million four-drawer filing cabinets

C. 20 million four-drawer filing cabinets

If you answered “C,” you are correct.

The new electronic document management system for The National Archives can store 1 petabyte of digital data – the same as 20 million four-drawer filing cabinets or 12 years of HDTV, according to PublicTechnology.net.

With the new system, The National Archives will be equipped to handle the mass of electronic government records that will be received over the next few years. The system will store websites, digital documents and digital copies of paper records.

Electronic document imaging and scanning not only ensures the longevity of historical documents, but also provides benefits such as:

• Security: Electronic document management systems eliminate the risk of loss due to fire, water damage or malicious intervention.
• Responsiveness: Requests for files can be answered instantaneously.
• Manpower reduction: Search time is reduced and re-filing is eliminated.
• Space savings: Areas needed for file cabinets can be re-used more efficiently.

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Electronic Document Management System at The National Archives was posted at Imaging Services Blog. | http://www.imagingservices.com/blog

A. Archivist for The Clash Archive

B. Archivist for the Led Zeppelin Archive

C. Archivist for the Grateful Dead Archive

D. Archivist for The Doors Archive

If you answered “C”, you are correct.

The University of California Santa Cruz recently announced it was hiring a librarian to manage and act as a curator for its Grateful Dead digital library archives. The new archivist will be responsible for planning and overseeing digital processing of all archives-related material.

Whether they house collections for singing greats of the past, or 300-year old historical documents, university libraries across the world must ensure the safety and longevity of their items.

Document conversion services for colleges for colleges enable a variety of these items to be preserved, including:

• News clippings
• University catalogs
• Rare books and folios
• Local community records
• Special library collections

Discover more about the benefits of document conversion services for colleges.

The Hunt for the “Coolest” Digital Library Archivist Ever was posted at Imaging Services Blog. | http://www.imagingservices.com/blog

• Security for sensitive information
• Protection of historical documents
• Physical space conservation
• Enhanced customer service
• Improved staff workflow

These days, even politicians, celebrities and sports figures understand the importance of digital content archiving and management – particularly with the flood of content from social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Which high-profile figure is currently searching for a social media content archiving solution?

A) Oprah Winfrey

B) David Letterman

C) Katie Couric

D) President Barack Obama

If you answered D) President Barack Obama, you are correct.

Recently, the Obama Administration announced plans to hire a contractor to archive the growing amount of social media content that qualifies as presidential records. According to the solicitation notice, the White House needed:

1. A tool to crawl social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, twice a day to capture data required by the Presidential Records Act

2. A method for automatically and electronically storing content posted on those sites

3. A way to transfer that data to the National Archives and Records Administration for historical preservation

Of course, you don’t have to be the President of the United States to take advantage of digital data management. Discover how your own business can benefit from document imaging & scanning services.

Who Needs To Archive Social Media Content? was posted at Imaging Services Blog. | http://www.imagingservices.com/blog