Local Records :: Publications :: Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records

Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records

One of the many services provided by the Local Records Preservation Program is promoting records management through the appropriate use of microfilm. The staff has prepared these Guidelines to help local officials ensure that their microfilm meets the necessary criteria to ensure it will be a permanent and useful replacement for paper records.

These Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records outline the standards that will ensure your information will be secure and available in the future. They also offer recommendations about specifications that will facilitate the migration of microfilm to a digital format. These guidelines must be followed to ensure that archivally sound microfilm is created.

Who must follow these guidelines?

• Local government offices that receive a microfilming grant from the Local Records Preservation Program
• Agencies that want to store the master copy of permanent records in the vault at the State Archives

If you are filming independently and have no wish to store your film with the Archives, this information will still provide you with specifications to ensure that you get the high-quality product you want.

• Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records  (Revised, 09/2011)
• Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records: Templates for Targets 
• Guidelines for Microfilming Public Records: Sample Forms 
• State and local government agencies planning to create permanent microfilm from digital sources, e.g., Archive Writer or COM, should also consult the Statement on Storage of Microfilm Created from Digital Sources.  The Missouri State Archives will only accept for storage microfilm reels that conform to the guidelines there.