Diazo microfilm

With respect to the question about diazo microfilm, it is certainly not
a choice for a collection which you hope to have around for a long time.
In addition to the fact that diazo films fade (even in dark storage as
another person pointed out) if the films are on an acetate base you will
certainly be faced with "vinegar syndrome" at some time.

A few years ago I wrote two articles about the various film types
available and what to expect from them.  Anyone wanting to know
something of the relative merits of silver halide, diazo, and vesicular
films might want to have a look at my articles.  More is known now about
the degradation of acetate film base, and the Image Permanence Institute
has developed its SilverLock process for protecting silver film from
oxidation, but the basic information in the articles is still valid. One
important point to remember about diazo films is that there are many
different formulations, which can fade at different rates.  How many
people know what they've got?

The citations for the articles are:

    "Microfilm--Which Film Type, Which Application?" Microform Review 14
    (Spring 1985): 87-98, and

    "Microfilm types: There Really is a Choice," Library Resources &
    Technical Services 30, no. 1 (January/March 1986):84-90.

Suzanne Cates Dodson
Facilities and Preservation Manager
University of British Columbia Library
604-822-3858
Fax: 604-822-3893

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:73
                 Distributed: Wednesday, March 8, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-73-002
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