San Luis Obispo County Recorder Converts Records with Digital ReeL Microfilm Scanning Solution
2,600 microfilm rolls representing 3,000,000 images converted and hosted at BMI’s data center; Social Security Number redaction solution to meet compliance requirements; users access records from the Digital ReeL web interface client
Sunnyvale, California – April 14, 2010 – BMI Imaging Systems Inc., an industry-leading provider of document conversion services, microfilm scanning services and document management solutions, today announced that the San Luis Obispo County Recorder’s Office has successfully converted its microfilm-based records to an electronic format with BMI Imaging’s Digital ReeL microfilm scanning solution. Digital ReeL is not only a microfilm scanning service, but also a software application that enables users to retrieve records from a graphic interface that resembles a digital version of a microfilm reader printer.
The cost of maintaining the microfilm archive (e.g. storage, equipment, labor intensive oversight), cumbersome public searches and a legislative mandate to remove Social Security numbers (SSNs) from public view caused the County to issue a request for proposal (RFP) seeking an official records microfilm conversion solution. After reviewing several potential solutions, the County selected BMI Imaging’s Digital ReeL due to its microfilm scanning accuracy and ability to redact SSNs from public view.
Furthermore, the County avoided costly IT infrastructure and management costs by hosting its information with BMI, enabling users from multiple locations to quickly access public records from the Digital ReeL web interface. Julie Rodewald, San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder, states, “The sheer volume of data that we had converted would have required a significant investment in servers, storage and the IT administrative resources to manage an internally deployed system. The County was able to eliminate the need to worry about the technical management of the solution by outsourcing the entire operation to BMI.” San Luis Obispo County Official Records are now stored at BMI’s data center operations. The information is stored and managed on an IT infrastructure that offers 99.999% data availability as well as industry-leading disaster recovery and business continuity.
Users log into the Digital ReeL web client through a browser such as Internet Explorer. The interface replicates the look and feel of a common reader printer, enabling users to quickly retrieve information by book, page and document number, exactly as before with the physical microfilm archive – only now without the hassle of handling physical microfilm and reader printers. Rodewald continues, “Prior to Digital ReeL, all record retrievals had to occur on-site at our main office from physical microfilm. Now, citizens and San Luis Obispo County staff access records from public and staff terminals across County offices over a secure and fast T1 line. Very little end user training or assistance is required.” Other Departments through the County such as Assessor, Public Works and Planning can now access records online from their offices. The County is currently working on an agreement that would allow outside organizations that need regular access to these records (e.g. surveyors) the ability to log on from their office computers and access required records from the Digital ReeL web interface.”
About BMI Imaging’s Digital ReeL
Digital ReeL is both a service and a software application. Digital ReeL is a microfilm scanning service that includes software designed for viewing microfilm, microfiche and aperture card digital images. Digital ReeL is unique in the microfilm scanning industry for providing adjustable image enhancement to the end-user, allowing users to choose from multiple print settings. The Digital ReeL conversion service creates an exact digital replica of your microfilm, microfiche and aperture card records. The Digital ReeL application is available as software installed at the organization’s site or can be accessed from a workstation with a web browser. In addition, BMI offers Digital ReeL as a hosted service – users store their digitally converted images with BMI, accessing their images from the Digital ReeL Web interface.
About BMI Imaging
Since 1958, BMI Imaging Systems has been a leader in microfilm conversion, document imaging and document management solutions. BMI offers industry-leading scanning products from Canon and the ApplicationXtender document management product line from EMC. In addition, BMI has developed its own unique microform replacement software, Digital ReeL, which is available through resellers nationwide. Today, BMI staff consists of 80 employees, many who have been with BMI for decades. BMI converts an average of 3 million images per month and has an installed base of hundreds of content management solutions. BMI serves commercial and government agencies throughout the United States and has developed a customer list of more than 2,000 accounts. BMI is headquartered just outside San Francisco in Sunnyvale, California, with an additional production and sales facility in Sacramento, California.