Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 14 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › Subtitle 18 - STATE ARCHIVES › Chapter 14.18.05 - Archival Standards for Records on Microfilm › Section 14.18.05.04 - Microfilm Standards

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A.
				Microfilm shall be of the type suitable for archival quality. Archival quality
				or permanent film is defined as any film that is equal to or better than
				silver-gelatin film, as specified in the "American National Standard for
				Imaging Media (Film)-Silver-Gelatin Type-Specifications for Stability
				(ANSI/NAPM IT9.1-1992)" and in the "American National Standard for
				Photography-Determination of Regional Thiosulfate and Other Related Chemicals
				in Processed Photographic Materials-Methods Using Iodine-Amylose, Methylene
				Blue and Silver Sulfide (ANSI/NAPM IT9.17-1993)", which are incorporated by
				reference. Diazo or vesicular film are not acceptable as archival quality
				microfilm.
B. If an agency is
				microfilming its own records, it shall be the responsibility of the head of
				each agency or office to ensure that microfilm equipment is cleaned and
				maintained according to manufacturer's specifications or accepted industry
				practice, or both.
C. Microfilm
				Processing Requirements.
(1) For the
				production of archival quality or permanent film, microfilm shall be processed
				as described in this section.
(2)
				Permanent text records shall be microfilmed at a reduction ratio not greater
				than 24X.
(3) Permanent graphic
				records shall be microfilmed at a reduction ratio not greater than
				36X.
(4) Each film roll shall
				contain not less than 18 inches of film leader, and 18 inches of film
				trailer.
(5) Microfilm Density.
(a) Optimum background densities of microfilm
				images are dependent upon the quality of the documents filmed.
(b) For permanent records, density on
				negative copies will be between 0.95 and 1.2.
(c) For nonpermanent records, the ultimate
				density criterion is that the microfilm be legible for its intended use
				(reading, copying, or production of hard copy), and that all images on a roll
				can be printed, as much as is practicable, at the same printing
				exposure.
(d) The following
				classification indicates the maximum limits of density:
(i) Density not higher than 1.4 is required
				for high quality printed books, periodicals, and dense typing;
(ii) Density not higher than 1.3 is required
				for fine line originals, letters typed with a worn ribbon, pencil writing with
				a soft lead, and documents with small printing;
(iii) Density not lower than 1.0 is required
				for pencil drawings, faded printing, graph paper with pale fine colored lines,
				and very small printing such as footnotes;
(iv) Density not lower than 0.8 is required
				for very weak pencil manuscripts and drawings, and poorly printed, faint, or
				faded documents; and
(v) Readings
				beyond these densities are unacceptable.
(6) Resolution of the completed microfilm may
				not be less than 100 lines per millimeter, as determined by inspection of a
				resolution test chart photographed on each roll of film.
(7) Residual thiosulfate concentration shall
				be less than 1 microgram per square centimeter as proved by subsequent testing
				of the processed film. At regular intervals agencies shall send samples of
				processed film to the Division's Microfilm Laboratory for methylene blue
				testing. Samples are to be processed within 1 week before testing if accurate
				results are to be obtained.