Once upon a time, the printed book was the best way to store information and then share it with others. First, books were hand-written, which was a painstaking process. The advent of the printing press revolutionized the industry, making it possible to print multiple copies of a book in a relatively short time.
While modern machines have improved on the original printing press design immensely, the concept has remained largely the same for centuries, but today that has changed. Digital technology has made it possible to copy, store and share information even from rare, antique and fragile books. Should you digitize large books / digitize rare books, though? The answer is a resounding yes. Why, though?
Protect the Information and the Book
One of the most important reasons to digitize large, rare books is to protect both the information found within that book, as well as the book itself. If a rare book is damaged and the pages are made illegible, the information is lost forever. Digitizing the content transforms it into a format that won’t succumb to the ravages of time and handling. It can be saved forever. Additionally, digitizing fragile, aging books protects the book itself, which is important in situations where the book has value beyond the information contained within its pages. Once digitized, the book can be stored through an archival method, and kept out of the hands of readers (the oils in human skin can cause immense damage to fragile books).
Making Information More Accessible
Rare books are, well, rare. That means the information within them is not accessible to many people. Museums and universities have strict rules regarding who gets to access these books, when they can be accessed, and where they can be read. However, what if the information in those books is important or holds value to a larger number of people? By choosing to digitize large rare books / digitize large old books, you make that information available to anyone at all.
Digitized books can be stored anywhere, from a school’s computer network to the cloud. Students and other readers can access the information at any time, simply by turning on their device, whether that’s a laptop, a PC or even a smartphone. In addition, the information can be shared easily. For example, a book collector could email a copy of the book file to someone else, or share a download link from a cloud storage platform. It’s about providing access to the information in these rare books, while simultaneously protecting the book itself.
Of course, the catch here is that not all book scanning services can offer digitization of rare books. You need to find a service provider with the right equipment to handle large format books, but the skills and experience to care for rare volumes correctly, while using non-destructive book scanning services to digitize information.
At eRecordsUSA, we specialize in Book Digitization Services / digitizing large old books / digitize large rare books, and our staff has years of experience handling book scanning safely. Call +1.855.722.6669 or eMail us at [email protected]
Book scanning has come a long, long way. Once upon a time, it was a painstaking process done manually. Today, there is new technology on the scene, and the individual pages can be scanned electronically and then saved as a digital file. Book scanning has advanced quite a lot in just a few years, and even oversize book scanning service is not only possible, but expedient. What should you know about scanning oversized books? Here are a few important things.
Destructive or Non-Destructive?
There are two primary types of oversize book scanning in use today – destructive and non-destructive. Destructive book scanning is the faster of the two, but is only useful in situations where the information contained in the book is more valuable than the book itself. For instance, you might scan a coffee table book printed in the last few years to digitize the pictures and information. The book itself has little value beyond the information it contains.
Non-destructive book scanning service is different. This process is used when both the information in the book and the book itself have value. For example, you might use this method for an out of print book, a rare volume, a fragile book, or an antique book created decades, or even centuries ago. It allows the pages to be scanned and the information digitized without actually harming the binding or the pages.
Choose the Right Scanning Method
When it comes to oversize book scanning, it’s important to choose the right output method. For instance, if you’re scanning a book with a significant number of high-quality color photographs, you should opt for a color scanning process. This will ensure that the images are reproduced to the same size and quality as the original. However, if the images are not that important, you can opt for black and white, or even have the book scanned without the images or illustrations. This allows you to store and access text without worrying about superfluous pictures.
Training Makes a Difference
If you’re interested in destructive oversize book scanning services, then you only need to ensure that the company you choose provides training to its employees in the accurate use of the scanning technology. However, if you’re more interested in non-destructive oversize book scanning, then you need to make sure that the employees have training in handling rare or fragile books. Not all companies are capable of safely scanning vintage or antique books and then returning the collection to the owner.
Consider Cloud Access
In most instances, a scanned book will be transformed into a digital format and then delivered to you on a CD or DVD. While that is definitely convenient, cloud storage takes things a step or two farther. By storing your scanned book in the cloud, you can access it from any device with an Internet connection, and you avoid the possibility of file loss if something happens to your computer hard drive or the disc.
At eRecordsUSA, we specialize in book digitization services / oversize book scanning service, and our staff has years of experience handling rare and vintage books safely. We’re also proud to offer cloud storage. Call +1.855.722.6669 or eMail us at [email protected].
Whether you’re a researcher, a student, a biologist or an author, your research is an invaluable asset. It’s the only copy of your hard work, and contains essential information. If something where to happen to your notebook, years of effort could be lost in an instant. It makes sense to protect that information, but how can you do that? The simplest way is to make use of paper notebook scanning services. These services transform your notes into digital format, protecting them essentially forever.
What Notebooks Can Be Scanned?
Simply put, any notebook can be scanned. It’s a relatively simple process that takes the physical notes in your notebook and transforms them into a digital format. Once converted, those notes can be stored on your computer or through your preferred cloud platform. You can access them, use them, and even modify them in many instances.
Why Scan Paper Notebooks?
As mentioned, your notebook is the only place that information appears. It’s your own unique body of work. If something were to happen to it, that information would be lost forever. Would you be able to duplicate it again? Chances are good that you wouldn’t be able to, at least not without a significant amount of effort, if at all.
With paper notebook scanning service, you’re prepared for whatever disaster might come your way. Your original notebook could be lost. It could be damaged by a liquid spill, or destroyed in a fire. It could be stolen, or any number of other things might happen. However, if the information in your notebook has been digitized, that loss will be easier to bear. You’ll still have access to all your research, notes, background information and anything else contained in those pages.
Another benefit of paper notebook scanning service is the ability to share those documents with others. Maybe you’re collaborating with another researcher, or a lab on the other side of the country. If your information is locked up in a physical notebook, it can be difficult or impossible to share. However, if that information has been digitized, it can easily be shared through email or a download link.
Work with an Ethical Company
Obviously, your notebook will contain sensitive information. It might be proprietary research data, or it could be the plot and outline for the next great American novel. In all these instances, that information is your intellectual property, and it’s essential that you work with a scanning company that not only understands that, but honors it and protects your information as well.
Make sure that the book scanning company does all the scanning in house, and doesn’t outsource it to another provider, as this could put your information at risk. You should also ensure that the company has a confidentiality agreement, and stands by it at all times.
eRecordsUSA, a leading book scanning services provider can understand the importance of your intellectual property, and do everything in our power to protect it. Your information is always confidential, and we never outsource to other providers. Call +1.855.722.6669 or eMail us at [email protected] today to know more about our lab notebook scanning services or paper notebook scanning service.
Whether you have a single antique book or an entire historical collection of rare volumes, it’s important that you protect them. Time is the enemy of the printed page, but your antique books can also be damaged through other means. Too much handling, or incorrect handling, can be devastating. Spills, fire, and flood damage – all of these can destroy those books. Large antique book scanning services gives you the means to protect both the information in your books, as well as the volumes themselves. What should you know?
What Is Book Scanning?
Book scanning is a relatively new technology that allows you to take the information contained in your book and digitize it. This gives you a digital copy that can be duplicated any number of times, and won’t be susceptible to damage in any form. It can be shared with others, posted online, emailed, even printed out if you really want to do so.
Of course, there are a couple of types of book scanning. Destructive scanning is the most common, but it’s not right for rare or antique books because the process actually destroys the book. The binding is cut and removed, and the pages are trimmed so they can be scanned easily. This will work fine for a book where the information inside is the most valuable, but not for books that have inherent value in their own right.
Non-destructive book scanning service is the better choice here. In this process, the binding and pages are protected, while the pages are accurately scanned and digitized. The book is then returned to you in the same condition as it was originally, and you have a digital copy that can be used for other means.
Why Protect the Information?
For some collectors, the book itself is the most important thing. The information contained within it is a secondary consideration. However, there may be many people who would love to read that information, from other family members to researchers and students. With large antique book scanning, you can take the information out of the book and share it with as many people as you like, while the book itself stays safe and sound in your collection. You’re able to enrich the world without putting your prized book in any danger at all.
Not All Scanning Companies Can Help
While there are various companies that offer book scanning services, they’re not all created equal. You need to choose your service provider with care. How much experience do they have handling rare, antique books? Are they able to scan large books, or are they limited to conventional sizes? Do they offer full color photo and illustration reproduction as well, or is their service text only?
At eRecordsUSA, we have years of experience in handling rare and vintage books. We offer large antique book scanning, picture reproduction and much more. We can also make your book available digitally on CD or DVD, as well as through the cloud for more convenience. Call +1.510.900.8800 or eMail Us.
Books come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from mass-market paperbacks to log books, map books, university textbooks and much, much more. They provide the means to store and share information with readers almost indefinitely, but books are sadly not indestructible.
Age, accident, fire, spills and other issues can damage paper books, rendering them useless. Preserving that information is vital, and large format book scanning offers the means to transform expansive books into something new – a digital format that can be protected and preserved forever. Whether you have a collection of antique map books that needs to be protected, unique periodicals from a bygone age, or a valuable collection of historical books, large format book scanning service offers a number of benefits.
1. Digitize the Contents
Perhaps the most important advantage offered by large format book scanning is the ability to digitize the contents of those books. This transforms information from print to digital imagery, which can be stored on CDs and DVDs, the cloud, or saved to a computer’s hard drive.
2. Easily Share
Another benefit found with large format book scanning is that you can easily share the contents of your books with anyone, anywhere, at any time. All they need is a digital device, and today, that means something as simple as a smartphone could be used. You can email files, share links from cloud storage solutions like Dropbox or Google Drive and more. This reduces time, cost and hassle.
3. Preserve Important Information
If your books contain rare information, or unique data, it must be protected. Book format is not the best way to do that, even with archival quality ink and paper. Large format book scanning ensures that your vital information is protected and preserved for posterity, in a format that can never be destroyed (digital copies can be saved literally forever with no degradation, particularly if stored in the cloud).
4. Maintain Quality
Older scanning technology was capable of creating copies of images, maps and printed pages, but often the quality was lower than the original. For instance, a copy machine can create a duplicate of a page, but the quality is less than ideal. With high-quality book scanners, you can create identical copies of images and pages, and then save them as PDFs, JPG files, TFF files and more.
5. Reduced Costs
Printing large books is expensive, and for businesses that regularly issue updated volumes or new material, this can be very costly. Add to that the cost of shipping books to customers or clients, and you have a serious drain on your budget. Large format book scanning ensures that you’re able to scan and send whatever you need at no cost (emailing a file or sharing a link costs you nothing, and even cloud storage is inexpensive).
These are just a few of the many benefits of large format book scanning. Of course, you must choose the right partner. If you would like to receive a free quote for book scanning services or large format book scanning services? Call +1.855.722.6669 or eMail us at [email protected].
