Recently, we discovered that the Library’s collection of microfilmed Michigan City newspapers had succumbed to Vinegar Syndrome. Vinegar Syndrome occurs when the acetate chemicals in safety film deteriorate and break down, making the film give off a vinegar aroma. Along with this smell, the film will shrink, become brittle, buckle, curl and become unusable.
Microfilm with Vinegar Syndrome gives off chemicals that will also “infect” other nearby films like a chain of Dominoes. Once it is discovered that acetate film is deteriorating, it’s already going bad and there is no way to reverse the process. More information on this condition can be found at FilmPreservation.org.
In order to maintain the quality of our microfilm archives, we had to remove all microfilm infected with Vinegar Syndrome --- which included our entire collection of microfilmed Michigan City newspapers. Microfilmed copies of Michigan City newspapers are still available at the Michigan City Public Library.
We have replaced all impacted La Porte Herald-Argus microfilm and will continue to do so in the future. If you have questions, please reach out to Access & Collections Manager Holly Trott.