Family
History Library:
CD-ROM Burner System
UPDATE: Additional
CD-ROM Burners at FHL Date: 07/17/2001
10:49:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: wold.andy@iname.com
(Andy E. Wold)
To: UTGEN-L@rootsweb.com
DearMYRTLE, (and everyone else interested),
Yep, the FHL does have a new computer system that they are "testing"
from MSC Imaging www.mscimaging.com , a
local Canon dealer, that is basically one of the nice Canon microfilm copy
machines already used in the FHL, hooked up to a computer instead of being
hooked up to a laser printer (it can be viewed at the link below.)
You can scan image after image (about 50 can be safely done in one batch), then
save the batch of images to a folder on a CD that you can purchase at the
Library Attendant's window for $1.75.
I will usually give the folder an identifiable name such as FILM_ITEM_PAGE (such
as "0940049_item2_page099"), that way I'll know what page I've been
able to scan thru, and where to start scanning again. The CD's are the re-writeable
type, so you can come back to the FHL and scan more images to the same CD on a
later date. The CDs can be read by most regular CD-ROM drives (the session
is left "open"), and the images are viewable in any browser (TIF
format -- I haven't been able to use their JPG format.) The images are
scanned at up to 400 DPI, and when I save them in TIF format they are about 2MB
each -- about 300 images can fit on one disc (about equal to 1 microfilm roll.)
The directories that I've put online all fit on 2 discs (in TIF format, in the
JPG format I've converted them to they fit in about 1/10th the space.) I
then have the high-quality TIF file available, in case there is a problem
reading the JPG image.
The cost for photocopying and scanning the images would have been enormous (600
images x $0.23/copy = $138.00) plus *many* hours of me manually scanning the
photocopies. Instead, I spent $3.50 total (for 2 discs), and only used
20-30 seconds per image of my time (which I would have used photocopying
anyway.) :)
The scanner is only available on a sign-up basis, and the FHL requests only
signing up for one 30 minute session per day. They do allow for signing-up
one day in advance, and any time not signed for is available for anyone to use.
The UGA is going to consider transcribing these records as one of their
volunteer efforts -- I for one am hoping that they do! I am also going to
take Annette's great suggestion for making a volunteer request via the UTSALTLA
mailing list (I've already done so on the Salt Lake website.)
You can see an example of how I would envision a transcription project using
these online images at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~utsaltla/Tips/_tip_TranscriptionProcess.html
DearANDY,
THANKS for appearing as a guest writer today! Your on-site experience at the
Family History Library opens up all sorts of new avenues of thought for
individual researchers. Thanks for explaining the process so well!
As you mentioned, this TEST program, which we HOPE will go forward, sure saves a
step in our documentation process. I usually come home from SLC with two 2-foot
stacks of documents to scan and link in my PAF (Personal Ancestral File) to
ancestors. This will save me HOURS of work, not to mention the ease of
transporting only a few CDs between SLC and my home in SW Florida! Happy
family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your friend in genealogy
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