MINIATURE CAMERAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 18

MINIATURE CAMERAS

USE IN LIBRARIES

"Micrbpjhqtography in^Libraries" was the. subject; of an address given re^ cently ,by: Mr, W* W. Stirling to the Wellington; branch, of the New Zealand Library Association. The basis of the address was a thorough and interesting account and demonstration of the camera, the methods of developing the negative film strip, the printing of the positive film strip,, printing on to bromide paper, and the projection of film strips. Much useful technical information was given, including ihe use of the various filters, noninflammable film, and colour processes.

Mr. Stirling drew attention to the large amount of material available "on the "subject, inthe Wellington Public Libraries^ However, this material deafs with the methods adopted by the large American libraries and univer-> sities, and Mr. Stirling did not recommend the adoption of these methods in New Zealand; he compared the American practice to a firm buying-a rotary printing press where a duplicating machine would do all that was required. Mr. Stirling has for some time been reproducing books and documents using a miniature camera, and recommended this method as suitable for local requirements.

The application of microphotography to .librarianship envisages1 the • time wheixrare and precious books will be available to all libraries which have the necessary equipment to project the film strip, on which these books will be recorded. For example, it would be possible for scholars to study the Codex Sinaiticus in Wellington without the expense of journeying to the British Museum. The more practical use of this technique is its application for copying extracts from books at a small cost; it obviates the necessity of laborious note-taking! and gives an exact reproduction. of the extract required. This service might be made available to the public at a small charge.