Two weeks ago I wrote my opinions about the value of creating digital copies of genealogical research. My e-mail account was flooded with responses to the column, and I thank everyone for taking the time to write. I wasn't able to respond to everyone, but I'd like to use this column to share some of the ideas that were sent to me about different ways scanning can be effective.

Chris Ketcham wrote, “I agree that it's not a good use of time to scan all documents. And I would add newspaper articles as another example of documents that should be scanned. I have an original of my uncle's obituary (he was killed in World War II), and it has almost disintegrated over time. Yes, newsprint can be kept in acid-free, three-hole binder sleeves, but I think they should be scanned as well to help preserve them against the time when they eventually disintegrate.”

Margaret Aurand shared the following: “While I agree with you that scanning genealogy documents as graphics is largely a waste of time, I think there is a use for scanning them. My ultimate goal is to save all my photos, family history, sound bites, movies, and relevant genealogy documents on one or more CD-ROMs. A single CD-ROM can hold 360,000 pages of text! And it will slip easily into a safe-deposit box at the bank. One of the saddest things I ever saw was a neighbor—an elderly, widower farmer—standing outside the smoking, charred remains of his farmhouse. Was he lamenting the loss of his family home to a fire? No, he sobbed that he had lost all his photographs and papers.”

Jeff Allen wrote, “My Web site covers the work of the late Rev. Martin Bieber. It is a wonderful work, and I wanted to make it available in its original form for others. That required scanning the original information. As I began the project, I found I did not want to write on the original work, and since it was already scanned, I could print a copy. The printed copies are great to work with. I can mark them up as I upload data to the Web site, to ensure everything is correct. The copies can also be used in that manner when I enter data into my genealogy program. I have found that scanning the data I am working on at the time, and printing it, helps ensure that everything gets entered.”

Homer Thiel wrote, “Many people like to examine and own copies of documents created by their ancestors. I, for one, own several family Bible records that have data on families with hundreds of living descendants. Photocopies I made 20 years ago on non-archival quality paper are already deteriorating. Scanned images preserve better, in some cases, than photocopies (hopefully, technological advances won't make current scanned images obsolete). Scanned images are more economical than taking photographs of individual pages, and modern photographs may also deteriorate.”

Debi Cundiff wrote, “When I have a document that is difficult to read due to light print or cramped writing, I scan it. I then use the tools of my scanning software to zoom in on the portion in question. Using this method, I was able to determine the documentation used to record my grandfather's given name many years after his birth certificate was filed as “Unnamed Cundiff.” The raised seal used to certify the modified birth certificate had been placed right over the information I most wanted to see. Using the scanned image, I was able to make out the words with no trouble.”

K.C. Thomsen wrote, “How about scanning as a backup? Since I don't have a Zip drive or a CD burner, I scan documents and upload them to our MyFamily.com site for the family to share. This, in effect, protects the documents off-site, in case of any disaster at home.”

Madora Allin Thayer Boyd wrote, “One reason for me to scan is to digitize the many letters written to me by my children's father when he was in the service during World War II. There are many very personal paragraphs that I do not want to include in copies for the children. With the scanner, I can edit them before printing copies.”

Ann Harney suggested a Web site that might be of interest to those needing help with scanning projects. Visit ArchiveCDBooks.com for more information about the Archive CD Books Project.

Thanks to all those who wrote and shared their ideas! There are a lot of family historians busy scanning out there!

Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CGRS, CGL, is the managing editor of Genealogical Computing, editor of the Board for Certification of Genealogists' newsletter OnBoard, the creator of Clooz—the electronic filing cabinet for genealogical records, co-creator of the new family health history program GeneWeaver, and a frequent contributor to Ancestry Magazine. She can be reached via e-mail at liz@ancestordetective.com or gceditor@ancestry.com.