Overhead Book Scanner

[Christine Rocca]

Hello everyone

I am wondering if anyone uses an overhead book scanner? I am new to Archiving and in a secondary school and would love to digitise yearbooks, old photos etc. I appreciate your recommendations. Many thanks Christine

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

I only tried a $600 overhead scanner. It was terrible and sent back for a refund. Generally, I cut off the binding and scan pages with the sheetfed scanner. I have tens of thousands of pages to scan per year. If it is important and can't be cut, I scan with a flatbed scanner. This scanner may be better. It scans to the edge of the paper for books. Never used one. But soundd good.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=Plustek%20OpticBook%20scann...

[Catherine Hall]

Good Afternoon Christine,
Here is my 2c worth. I'm not aware of any school archivists that have their own dedicated overhead scanner. In Vic, the school archivists tend to send their yearbooks, legers, etc to off site scanning companies that have bigger and better scanners. It is also a question of your time and volume of items.
Happy to chat further, if you have any other questions. Can also re-post onto the School Archives SIG page, where you may get more responses.
Cheers,
Catherine

[Catherine Hall]

Hi Christine,
Would you be able to give us your city/state and expected budget expenditure, as there may be some alternative suggestions.
Cheers,
Catherine
Xavier College - Kew

[Christine Rocca]

Hello Catherine,
I am in Perth WA. Approximately $900. Thank you for your assistance.