The NLAB has a small microfilm section equipped with a microfilm camera, an autoprocessor, a reader-printer, and two microfilm/fiche readers, which were obtained in 1985 with the assistance of the UNDP assisted project, Preservation of Cultural Heritage.
Rare, old and important documents are microfilmed for preservation. At present, there are 1300 titles (on different subjects) microfilmed in 354 rolls (list of titles). These include important manuscripts, texts, kashos, receipts, etc.
Microfilm is a high resolution, extremely fine grained black and white film on a stable base which is specially processed to ensure that it does not deteriorate. It can be preserved for a very long time in stable conditions and it is quite easy to print out copies from microfilm or to transfer the data from the film to a digital format. Being an analogue format, prints can be made directly from the original microfilm – it does not rely on any digital file format or magnetic or optical media which may change over the years, become outdated or unreadable.
So, next to hand-made Bhutanese paper itself – which can last for well over a thousand years under proper conditions, microfilm is a very reliable and compact media for long term archival storage of documents.
Microfilm cameras have very high resolution lenses optimized for copying documents. Microfilm itself is a high resolution, extremely fine grained black and white film on a stable base which is specially processed to ensure that it does not deteriorate. Microfilm can be preserved for a very long time in stable conditions and it is quite easy to print out copies from microfilm or to transfer the data from the film to a digital format. Being an analogue format, prints can be made directly from the original microfilm; it does not rely on any digital file format or magnetic or optical media which may change over the years, become outdated or unreadable. So, microfilm is a very reliable and compact media for long term archival storage of documents.
The Microfilm Section is equipped with a microfilm camera, an auto processor, a reader-printer, and two microfilm/fiche readers, which were obtained in 1985.Since 1985, the Archives has began systematically filming all old, rare and precious manuscripts in the National Library’s collection.
The Microfilm section occupies two inter-connected rooms in the block behind the administration building, and is equipped with a microfilm camera, an autoprocessor, a reader-printer, and two microfilm/fiche readers, which were obtained in 1985 with the assistance of the UNDP assisted project, Preservation of Cultural Heritage.
i) Advantages of Microfilming
Microfilm cameras have very high resolution lenses optimized for copying documents. Microfilm itself is a high resolution, extremely fine grained black and white film on a stable base which is specially processed to ensure that it does not deteriorate. Microfilm can be preserved for a very long time in stable conditions and it is quite easy to print out copies from microfilm or to transfer the data from the film to a digital format. Being an analogue format, prints can be made directly from the original microfilm – it does not rely on any digital file format or magnetic or optical media which may change over the years, become outdated or unreadable.
So, next to hand-made Bhutanese paper itself – which can last for well over a thousand years under proper conditions, microfilm is a very reliable and compact media for long term archival storage of documents.
ii) Microfilming Facility & Service
The NLAB has a small microfilm section where rare, old and important documents are microfilmed for preservation. At present, there are 1300 titles (on different subjects) microfilmed in 354 rolls (list of titles). These include important manuscripts, texts, kashos, receipts, etc.
The microfilm section also offers a free microfilming service for institutions and individuals within Bhutan who hold important or rare texts and documents. We actively encourage anyone holding such documents to bring them to the Library for microfilming. The original documents are returned to the owner along with one microfilm copy, while one copy will be retained in the archives’ secure and climate-controlled storage for posterity.