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Date: | Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:49:53 -0600 |
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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
>
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's new at
> http://www.aol.com
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