Volume 35, Issue 4

Anniversary celebrations provide archivists and librarians with many unique opportunities to build public support for their programs. Archivists, in particular, are expected to be a resource for such events. Handled adroitly, anniversary programming can offset the “dusty shelf” stereotype that frustrates many professionals. Moreover, resource allocators planning an anniversary are likely to look to their archives for ideas and special projects, initiatives that may result in additional financial and staffing resources. Describing the positive public relations value of anniversaries, archivist Tim Ericson has gone so far as to suggest “The Archivist's First Law of Outreach”: Human beings are unable to resist celebrating any anniversary divisible by twenty-five.

Introduction The production of high quality microform has always involved four main components: stable archival materials, such as a polyester film base; careful film processing and duplication; production of an appropriate number of generations of film (camera negative, print master, and positive copies); and stable and secure storage. The essence of preservation is the concept that archival quality film can last for 500 years, but we know that if any of the basic components are compromised, film will not last very long. When film is produced in tropical countries, one of the most difficult problems to deal with is the issue of stable storage.