[Web4lib] Microform scanners

[George J. Fowler]

I have set up and networked both an MS 800 and MS 400 (needs additional
hardware) for the public.

>From the staff side, the MS400 was much better to setup, lockdown, and let
the patrons play. Unfortunately, the biggest problem we had was with either
the card swipe or the coin box. These caused problems with patrons who were
used to using stand-alone microform machines - who would use the scan button
on the machine instead of using the software.

The way we are getting around all of the money headaches is to provide free
e-mail and save options and the ability to print to a network printer (at
which point they will get to pay).

The most recent version of image.scan software is very user-friendly and
does provide nice multi-media clips on how to use the networked setup.

George
 
George J. Fowler
Systems Librarian/
Head, Enterprise Systems Unit
Temple University Libraries
(215) 204-5520
gfowler at temple.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Malakia Oglesby
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 2:52 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Microform scanners

We don't use cards for copies - we use a good old-fashioned coin box. So,
although it is a SCSI interface it doesn't present a problem for us.  As for
XP, the MS800 is compatible with XP.  We also have a MS400 (not connected to
a PC - although we were told initially that it could be, we never got it to
work with a PC.) Compared with the 400, in my opinion, the 800 is more
user-friendly and easier to operate.  

Malakia

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Mike McDermott
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 2:29 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Microform scanners

We have a Canon MS 400 set up to do Microfilm scanning. It is a self service
operation, but the procedure is definitely not for the technologically
faint-of-heart.  The complexity of our situation is compounded by the fact
that the scanning interface is SCSI, meaning the computer has to see the
device on bootup or it won't recognize it later, and we have a card-swipe
reader hooked up to the machine which interupts the connection between the
computer and scanner unless a card has been swiped. So, users generally have
to make sure the microfilm reader is on, swipe their card and reboot the
computer before they can make copies.

Also, there don't seem to be drivers for Windows XP for this unit, so it is
the only regularly used computer left in the library running Windows 98.

Mike

Malakia Oglesby wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> (A little late replying - had a few (very much needed) days off.)
> 
> We recently purchased a Canon MS 800 Microfilm Scanner that appears to 
> do what you're asking.  It allows scanning of film/fiche and then you 
> can either print, e-mail, or save the image.  If produces both TIFF 
> and JPEG file formats and you can set the scanning resolution you want 
> to use.  It has a lot of features that allow you to correct the 
> scanned image
> (lighten/darken/dither/rotate/crop/etc.) before you "accept" the 
> scanned image.  Naturally, it works with a PC, and there are video 
> tutorials that users can select to walk them through different features.
> 
> We got it a few months ago and it's working great for us.  Both staff 
> and library patrons have access to it.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> Malakia Oglesby
> Tech-MIS
> Asbury Park Public Lilbrary

-- 
Mike McDermott                     mmcderm2 at bowdoin.edu
Bowdoin College Library
3000 College Station               phone: (207) 725-3856
Brunswick, Maine 04011-8421        fax:(207) 725-3083
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