The Crowley Company to Exhibit Scan Systems at American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Boston

Frederick, Md. and Boston, Ma. – The Crowley Company will introduce a new Zeutschel book scanner to the U.S. market, feature popular book and microfilm library scanners and host New York City icon and author Garrett Buhl Robinson beginning this Friday at the 2016 ALA Midwinter Meeting. From Friday, January 8 through Monday, January 11, The Crowley Company will be exhibiting their scan systems in Booth 1707.

Why Exhibit?

“Libraries are a key demographic for Crowley’s scanning hardware and imaging services,” says Matthew McCabe, company vice president of sales and marketing. “No other vertical market uses such a wide variety of imaging equipment and services in a single location.” He further explains, “In just one library, there may be a high-volume Mekel Technology microfilm scanner* used by staff to digitize thousands of images of old newspapers stored on microfilm, a walk-up UScan+ Universal Film reader-printer for patrons to gather, digitize and save information from microfilm, microfiche, aperture cards or other micro-media, an overhead Zeutschel OS 12002* large format scanner for the digitization of rare books and documents from special collections and a Zeutschel zeta*, which is essentially a walk-up scanner that acts as a copier minus the paper, toner, jams, poor quality, book damage and drag on staff time. In short, libraries know how to take advantage of today’s technology to best serve both walk-in patrons and electronic researchers from around the world. Our job is to offer them the best imaging tools for their archival preservation, hosting and patron needs.”

Hands-on Demonstrations and Conversations

“It’s not easy or inexpensive from a logistics standpoint to have so many scanners at a conference,” notes company president Christopher Crowley, “but ALA offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ for librarians, directors and archivists. It’s important for them to touch screens, push buttons and determine image quality on the spot. A high-quality scan system is a sizeable investment and it’s critical that the systems match the various needs of each institution and its end-users. The requirement variety is why we offer such a diverse line of products and why we bring so many to demonstrate. Unlike the proverbial china shop, ours is a ‘Please Touch’ booth.”

The firm is pleased to show – for the first time in the United States – the Zeutschel OS 16000 book scanner. Due out later this spring, the OS 16000 can digitize originals up to A2 (16.5” x 23.4”) and offers maximum book protection (up to 8” book thickness), superb image quality up to 600 dpi and an automatic book cradle. A world’s first, according to Zeutschel, the scanner also has an optical zoom, making it easy to scan small-sized originals.

Crowley will also have the following scanning units for attendees to demo:

• Zeutschel zeta book copy* patron and back-office scan system
• Wicks and Wilson UScan+ multi-media microform reader/scanner (10MP and 18MP versions)
• Mekel Technology MACH10* high-production roll film scanner
• Crowley MACH7380 Reference Archive scanner for blip microfilm search and retrieval

Also onsite will be conversion services specialist Meghan Wyatt, who can discuss Crowley Imaging’s services with librarians and archivists who may consider outsourcing collection digitization or microfilm archive writing versus an equipment purchase. One of the largest service bureaus in the nation, Crowley Imaging offers paper, bound-book, archival preservation, microform and graphic arts scanning, as well as micrographics (generating and duplicating microfilm) and image hosting and viewing.

Signed Book Giveaway: Author Garrett Buhl Robinson to sign books, perform on PopTop Stage

One day Alabama native Garrett Buhl Robinson left school, hopped on a train and never looked back. Now a New York City icon, he can be seen daily at his post outside of the New York Public Library no matter the weather.  Robinson has used his life experiences to write seven books, one of which – “Letters to Zoë” – has become a musical (“Letters to Zoey”) which was selected to be performed at the United Solo Festival this past October at Theatre Row in New York. Robinson will be the guest author in The Crowley Company booth.

The Crowley Company will offer the first 15 books signed by Robinson free each day; his books will also be on sale. Robinson will perform selections from his musical at 9 a.m. on Monday, January 11^th on the PopTop Stage located on the exhibit hall floor.

Free Expo Pass

Crowley is offering a free Expo-only pass to anyone wanting to attend the Boston exhibition.

* These units have been awarded top honors in LibraryWork’s Modern Library Award 2015 and 2016 competitions. The 2016 awards will be presented at the conference. For more information, read the release.

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About the American Library Association

Established in 1876, the American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world. It is dedicated to the advancement of library and information services and to providing information and resources to librarians and library patrons.

About The Crowley Company

The Crowley Company is a world-leader in digital and analog film technologies and provides an extensive number of digital document and film conversion services to the academic, publishing, commercial, government and archive sectors. The company manufactures, distributes and services high-speed microfilm, microfiche, aperture card, book and document scanners, microfilm duplicators, film processors and micrographics equipment. Manufactured brands include Mekel Technology, Wicks and Wilson, HF Processors and Extek Microsystems.