Overhead Scanner Acquisition
GANS currently has two scanners: one is an A3 "Book Edge" flat-bed scanner and the other is a small sheet-fed scanner. The flat-bed scanner has been a high quality workhorse for us, but it is an older model and the engine has started overheating with prolonged use and appears to be nearing end of life. We use the small sheet-fed scanner for scanning newspaper obituaries, but it is not built for large documents or heavy use.
Apart from the limitations outlined above, both machines are relatively slow. In recent years, we have prioritized data development and have invested heavily in work station development and the construction of a digital archive. We need to enhance productivity now for the scanning and data development work we do. The technology has advanced such that there are now "overhead scanners" that are moderately priced and produce good quality results, using software that automatically corrects for page distortion and gutter shadows, and is able to provide high resolution images. The dominant overhead brand is CZUR and their ET MAX model is able to achieve 410 DPI with its 38 MP camera. It comfortably scans A3 and Tabloid paper sizes.
Donations under this campaign will help us acquire the scanner this spring. It is priced in the $1300-$1400 CAD range after tax. Help make this possible.
