Author Archive
Digitized Court Records Increase Efficiency and Access
Court trials have long been a topic of public fascination in America starting with the first recorded murder trial on U.S. soil in 1800 and, more recently, in true crime documentaries like Making a Murderer and The Staircase (my most recent Netflix binge watch). While internally debating the guilt or innocence of Michael Peterson, it reminded me that digitized court records such as licenses, dockets, deeds, wills, laws, case dispositions, subpoenas and other information are crucial in accurately creating a usable record of history…
Raiders of the (Not So Lost) “Ark”ives: Digitizing Religious Archives
As I was preparing for Crowley’s appearance at this week’s annual American Theological Library Association Conference (ATLA), I realized that everything I know about religious archives comes from Indiana Jones’ movies and Dan Brown novels. It’s not a fact I’m proud of since religious entities have been a prominent market for Crowley (and as the daughter of a pastor and a church secretary, I’m no stranger to the goings on of the church) but my perception of their archives mostly…
Olympic Lineup: New UScan+ UF-Series Offers More Options for Microfilm Reader Printer Replacements
I didn’t realize the importance I placed on the Olympics until Pyeongchang 2018 began seeping into my subconscious thoughts far beyond prime time hours. When Crowley unveiled the latest model in the UScan+ microfilm reader printer replacement scanner series, the UScan+ HD LTE, I couldn’t help but compare the new lineup to a diversely-skilled Olympic team. Each model’s specific set of features propels the team (or series) toward the podium for best value in the microfilm reader printer class. Reader printers…
Moving on Up: Four Questions to Ask Before Upgrading Your Mekel Scanner
As a consumer, I’m weary of constantly evolving technology. Keeping up with “state-of-the-art” is frustrating, particularly when you invest in a purchase only to find a newer model is instantly available, making your “new” technology old. This leads to significant “tech-FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out). Fortunately, if you own a Mekel Technology brand scanner I’m here to give you a little “tech-POMO” (Peace Of Mind, Obviously). During my time in the tech service department – where many of the book, document and…
The Marine and the Microfiche: Preserving 20 Years of Service
After one conversation with retired United States Marine Corps (USMC) Gunnery Sergeant Joseph Wilk, it was evident that his time in the military was filled with valuable life lessons and experiences. These experiences will be passed down for generations through his impressive storytelling skills (to which I bear witness), but also through the preservation of his military records from microfiche. This Veteran’s Day we take the time to shine a light on Wilk’s service and the journey to digitize his…
DAR, Darling: Digitizing Revolutionary Ladies
October is American Archives Month, a celebration of America’s history and the archivists, organizations and physical buildings that keep them safe and available to the world at large. Each week this month we’ll highlight a facet of how The Crowley Company partners with archivists and historians to help preserve and share American archives. In a previous blog, we detailed the factions of the National Society Daughters of the Revolution (NSDAR) and the many ways in which The Crowley Company has partnered to preserve…
30 (Days); 9 (Industries); One (Chance to Win): A Month in Crowley Scanner Sales
In our little corner of the blogosphere, we love to “zoom in” on a single client’s hardware or imaging services digitization journey. Rarely do we “zoom out” and look at the various vertical markets that make up Crowley’s diverse client base. Each scanning story we’ve told so far is a tile in the larger mosaic of Crowley’s vast market reach. If I give the complete rundown of four decades of Crowley sales, this blog will be 17 pages long and I’ll lose my…
Uniontown Public Library Wins ODS Book Scanner, Begins Collection Digitization
Update: As of June 2023, the Crowley ODS book scanner has been discontinued. The scanners continue to be supported by Crowley’s Technical Support team. Note from the Editor: It’s a solemn time around the Southwest, but this week has been especially difficult for one of our most beloved vertical markets, libraries, with the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the horrific shooting in Clovis, New Mexico. While this blog post can’t alleviate the pain left by these tragic…
Award-winning Author, Abby Geni, Brings Suspense to the Crowley Booth
In anticipation of this week’s American Library Association (ALA) conference in Chicago, Illinois, I chatted with Crowley’s guest author 2016 Barnes and Noble Discover Fiction Award-winner, Abby Geni, to learn more about her connection to libraries, her intriguing debut novel, “The Lightkeepers” (which she will be signing in the Crowley Booth #2438 on Saturday and Sunday of the conference) and much more. Q: How have libraries played a role in your life? A: Libraries have played an extensive role in my life,…
Sales and the Stacks: A Library Show Through the Eyes of Crowley Reps
Next week at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois, the Crowley reps will take to the exhibit hall to demonstrate a wide variety of scanners, software and services in Booth 2438. On-hand will be book and document scanners, patron microfilm scanners, digital hosting solutions and 71MP cameras for end-user integration. In anticipation of this event, I sat down with two of Crowley’s sales representatives, Robie Harris (RH) and Zak Lubchansky (ZL), to get their take on libraries and the conferences that have…