Microfilming Costs

Costs  

See below for descriptions and explanations of services.  A signed contact includes microfilming, microfilm processing, and one vesicular copy per roll created.  Additional and/or substitute copies and formats are available.  A $20.00 per hour preparation charge may be required based on the condition of the collection (many pages need to be numbered, alphabetized, flattened, repaired, disbound, completely reorganized, etc.).

The Center for Archival Collections Preservation Laboratory extends its microfilming services to the public, local government agencies, historical organizations, churches, libraries, and BGSU offices and departments. The following prices are in effect:

Regular Charges

Bowling Green State University Offices & Departments

Microfilm Digitization

Microfilm Vault Storage

• $25.00 minimum charge
• $1.50 per roll for more than 16 rolls

Description of Services

Exposure, one image on microfilm which usually includes both the left and right pages of a book or newspaper or other bound material. Unless the material is very large it will be filmed with two pages for every one exposure for 35mm microfilming. 16mm microfilming and scanning is usually restricted to loose paper up to legal size (8.5 x 14) and in this case one page will equal one exposure. Generally speaking, 650 exposures can fit on one 35mm microfilm roll and 2600 exposures can fit on one 16mm microfilm roll.    

Vesicular, a polyester-based film, is more durable under average use conditions. Vesicular film is much less likely to scratch and break and is less sensitive to humidity. However, this film is not considered “archival” because it is not known how permanent the image will be over a period of centuries. It has shown excellent image stability under practical conditions for decades. 

Silver Halide, an ESTAR-based film, is considered by many to be the only film suitable for archival permanence. However, use copies are at greater risk if they are not handled carefully, since they are easily scratched and torn. This film is also more sensitive to damage from humidity. Silver halide duplicates can be either positive (white background with black print) or negative (black background with white print). Negative silver duplicates are called Printmasters because they replicate the original microfilm negative roll and are created when the original is badly damaged or deteriorated and the images on it are in danger of being lost. Both vesicular and silver positive duplicates can be made from printmasters. 

Duplication Restriction: No duplication of the microfilm (except paper copies) may be made without written permission from the Center for Archival Collections. In requesting permission to reproduce from the holdings of the Center for Archival Collections as described above, the requester agrees to hold harmless the Center for Archival collections, Bowling Green State University and its trustees, officers, and agents whether jointly or severally from any action involving infringement of the rights of any person and his/her heirs and descendants in common law or under statutory copyright.