Argues that the quality of information provided to scholars by microform sets of manuscript collections, as compared to original manuscripts and critical editions, does not justify the expansion of research libraries' collection boundaries and fiscal responsibilities to include such materials. (CLB)

The Microfilm Committee of the International Council on Archives grew out of various international meetings which began in 1966 with a congress on "Archives for Scholarship--Encouraging Greater Ease of Access." Meetings since then have resulted in recommendations that (1) archives and records should be fully microfilmed and widely…