We are engaged in the on-going process of reviewing a rather large
library of microfilm for either destruction or preservation. A portion
of our microfilm (relatively small, thank goodness) has been
contaminated with redox. In most cases, the damage is fairly limited,
often to the leader film, or to a few frames on the roll.
 
Our policy has been to silver duplicate this film, polysulfide treat the
silver duplicate, use that for our security copy, and discard the
original. Given the limited damage, and the growing cost of both silver
duplication and brown-toning, can anyone comment on the wisdom of
polysulfide treating the original film? Would this stop the damage from
spreading, and create a viable preservation copy, or are we better off
sticking with our original silver duplication/treatment plan? Note that
on the advice of our state archives, we are polysulfiding original
uncontaminated film.
 
Dwight Wallis, CRM
Records Administrator
Multnomah County Fleet, Records, Electronics, Distribution & Stores
(FREDS)
1620 SE 190th Avenue
Portland OR 97233
phone: (503)988-3741
fax: (503)988-3754
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