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The National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) sets the national standard in regards to document preservation. In 2012, the agency had about 10 billion logical data records and nearly 1 million copies of digitized media. In addition to the two main buildings in Washington D.C. and Maryland (Archives I and II), NARA has affiliated facilities and regional facilities throughout the U.S., and also maintains the Presidential Library system. The media that NARA maintains include still pictures, paper documents, maps, books, motion pictures and electronic media.

When rolls of microfilm or sheets or microfiche get wet, their base and emulsion are in danger of separating. This is when the image separates from the plastic backing. Without proper water damage restoration, moisture can spread from wet film to dry film because of the resulting humidity, which could also lead to mold damage. Film has a high susceptibility to the effects of water and moisture, and getting them to a document recovery service in a timely manner is critical.

In an effort to increase efficiencies and enhance customer service, city governments and municipalities are turning to document scanning as part of their digital initiatives. While completely paper-free operations and transactions are not always realistic in the public sector, document scanning services help close the gap between digital business process and hard copies. Before beginning a document imaging initiative, there are legal and management considerations to keep in mind.

Sheets of microfiche are fragile and need dry, cool environments to prevent deterioration and tearing. While they serve an important role in the preservation of history, microfiche takes up storage space, requires time to find the appropriate images and needs special machinery to read the film. By converting microfiche to a digitized form with the help of document imaging services, your company can maximize its physical storage space and preserve the documents with a more permanent solution.

Document management makes accessing critical information quick and simple, as it provides a single point of access. With the addition of document scanning, a government agency becomes better equipped to manage, collaborate, create and distribute information. As the number of government documents continues to increase, a management system unifies paper and electronic files, allowing an agency to modernize, experience higher levels of efficiency and keep records secure.