Christmas Appeal: Donations for Overhead Scanner
This Christmas, I’m asking website supporters whether you’d consider contributing towards the purchase of a Fujitsu Scansnap SV600 overhead scanner. This scanner would allow me to scan in documents at a faster rate and upload more archive material to the website. In turn, this allows anyone from across the world to read a range of visual and textual material on the work of the Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps.
What are the benefits of an overhead scanner versus a traditional scanner?
I had the pleasure of using an overhead scanner for the first time when scanning documents for the David Parr House. Here are a few of the benefits:
- You can scan documents without having to place them on flatbed scanner. This avoids bending the documents and also avoids me unnecessarily handling the documents.
- It’s quicker. All I have to do is turn the page and press the button on the scanner and it will begin scanning, which is much quicker than the usual scanning process of lifting up the lid of the scanner, turning the page, and then manually positioning again on the scanner.
- The scanner will intelligently crop the documents. Again this saves a lot of time, as usually I have to manually crop the area I want to scan. Also, if I’m scanning in a book, it will automatically flatten out the parts nearest the spine which are naturally curved. This feature makes the finished scan look more professional and easier to read.
- It can scan up to an A3 document. This is great for the oversized documents which don’t necessarily fit onto a traditional A4 scanner.
Finances
During November, I have given several talks which has resulted in the payment of £120. I will be investing £200 of my own money. However, I still have a shortfall of £239 as the scanner is currently retailing on eBuyer for £558.99 (as of 16th December 2018).
The website is largely self-funded. I run the website in my free time and have funded the web hosting (which this year came to just over £50) and other associated costs, such as travelling to collect material to share online since 2011. As many of you will know, I’m an individual running the website, as opposed an organisation or charity.
Donate
If any website supporters would be willing to donate any amount towards the purchase of an overhead scanner, it would be much appreciated. It would enable me to share more archive material to the website, which gives a real insight into what it was like to be in the Women’s Land Army during the First and the Second World Wars.
I am processing donations via PayPal, so if you feel you are able to contribute, please click here.
Thank you for your continued support.
Cherish
December 2018
