Preservation of microform

Abstract

Preservation of microforms relates to methods of protecting microforms from deterioration and damages, resulting in prolonging the longevity of the microforms for archiving information in the medium of film, as microimages. In considering how long microforms (35mm roll microfilm, 16mm roll microfilm, 105mm x 148mm microfiche[source and COM], 3Smm microfilm aperture card, 16mm microfilm jacket) can retained it's usable life, we need to look at the more often heard words, Preservation and Archival being mention in the micrographic dimension. Both terms apply to lifespan but they describe different aspects of it. Preservation have more to do with chemical properties, whereas, Archival tends to incline towards activities in maintaining storage conditions. To understand why microforms like any other media (paper, magnetic tape, other films, etc.) if ' left alone ' after the production process, will deteriorate, one needs to know something about what it is made of.