Mary,

Scan all the materials and burn the files to double-layer DVDs (CDs are 
ultra passe). It will all fit onto one stack of DVDs probably small emough 
to store in a cigar box.. The old bugabear about "who knows how long CDs 
will last" is simply a cop-out to permit one to avoid the unpleasant task of 
doing the scanning work. I have CDs that are over 20-years of age that are 
still just fine (I have backup copies I made 10 years ago when the first 
alarmism about their longevity was bandied-about). CD blanks cost $1 each 
back then; I can get them for 10-cents each now ... and the DVD blanks (each 
of which holds 20x as much data as the CD) now cost $1 each. The better 
(archival quality) disks cost $3-$5 and are projected to last, 
conservatively, 100-years ... so make copies every 50 years. How odious a 
burden can that be? With the present burning equipment installed in my home 
computer (the burner cost $42 thru Egghead Online) I could copy all your 
data (after you've done the hard part and scanned it), in one 8-hour day (I 
could work on other stuff whilst the burner was running ... you just have to 
flip a new blank in it every 8-10 minutes and hit a couple of on-screen 
buttons to start the next) onto DVDs for probably less than $50.

C'mon, how much cheaper could it be to assuage your screaming conscience? Do 
the right thing.

Bob Skiles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, 
without either virtue or talents ... The artificial aristocracy is a 
mischievous ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to 
prevent its ascendancy."

- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:16 AM
Subject: old notes


> Good morning Histarch-ers.
>
> After 25 years operating a small business we are out of space and faced 
> with
> a dilema.  We have accumulated tons of material.  Excavation  fieldnotes,
> level records, etc. are filed with the collection at archives but we  also 
> have
> copies in house.  On a survey level we have all the pencilled  site 
> records and
> maps from the field effort and notes, although the information  is 
> included
> in reports that are filed at various places and copies of fieldnotes  are 
> with
> agencies who contracted with us in the first place.  Getting a  storage 
> locker
> to stick boxes in isn't really feasible.  Trying to scan 25  years of
> projects also isn't feasible, and who knows how long the e-data will  last 
> on a cd?
> We have two schools of thought here.  One is that since  copies of 
> excavation
> data are with collections we can dispose of the  in-house duplicates by
> shredding.  The survey material is no where but  here, but was reproduced 
> in reports
> that are filed at various agencies or  repositories so can also be 
> shredded.
> The other "school"  screams PRIMARY DATA - DO NOT DESTROY!!! 
> Suggestions?
>
> Mary L.  Maniery
>
>
>
>
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