History of MAPS – Micrographic Preservation Service (1992)

MAPS was founded in 1985 by five research libraries: Columbia University, Cornell University, New York Public Library, New York State Library, and Princeton University. Their goal? “To adhere to the highest standards of preservation microfilming, and to create a high quality, low cost microfilming service for nonprofit organizations.” An alliance between MAPS and OCLC was formed in 1990 and, in 2009, the former MAPS center became a part of Backstage Library Works. In 2024, this video was rediscovered by members of our Microfilm and Digitization teams and restored. As we watch through it, it’s fascinating to see how much has changed in the decades since, and how much remains the same. What has persisted is a dedication to the preservation of heritage materials, utilizing workflows that ensure high-fidelity capture of original materials.