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.
