Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
I investigated book-friendly copiers a couple of years ago.
There are two basic types: edge copiers and face-up copiers.
In the former, the platen extends to the edge of the
machine, allowing the book to be copied, one page at a time,
when opened at less than a 180 degree angle. In the latter,
of which there is only one model available, the book is held
upright, also without being fully opened.
There are 3 brands of edge copiers on the market: Oce
Library Copier (2 models: 1725 and 1925R), Xerox 5042
BookSaver, and Selectec Bookmaster. The upright copier is
the Archivist.
We chose the Oce 1725, largely because it allows the book to
be positioned at the narrowest angle of opening (105
degrees) and has some nice features, like a good support for
the dangling half of the book and a pedal mechanism that
allows the operator to keep both hands on the book.
Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive.
I found the Archivist cradle very awkward to use and a
serious limit on the size of page that can be copied.
There was a good article in Library Resources and Technical
Services a couple of years ago: Orr, G.J., "Preservation
Photocopying of Bound Volumes," 34: p. 445-454 (1990).
Carol Clausen
Conservation Librarian
History of Medicine Division
National Library of Medicine
Bethesda, MD 20894
Internet: carol_clausen@occshost.nlm.nih.gov