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Book Scanning

Converting books into digital formats accessible for decades to come

We have helped councils, libraries and museums protect their historic archive by digitising their documents into accessible PDF’s.  

  • Safeguarded information
  • 24/7 digital access
  • Reduced office space
  • ISO 27001 & 9001 accredited
  • Destructive scanning
  • Non-destructive scanning

How does book scanning work?

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1 - Collection

We will pack your invaluable books into secure archive boxes and arrange their collection via our fleet of tracked vehicles. On arrival, all archive boxes are booked onto our internal tracking system.

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2 - Preparation

For destructive scanning projects, our experienced team will prepare the books for scanning by neatly removing spines using a guillotine. Where book integrity is critical, specialist care will be taken when handling and scanning. 

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3 - Scanning

Using a specialist V-cradle scanner, the books will be scanned in B&W or colour, and exported to the format of your choice (e.g. PDF). Digital books are indexed and OCR can be applied to enable text-searchability. 

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4 - Delivery

Digital books can be uploaded to the cloud to enable flexible, instant access across a public or private document management system. Alternatively, you can choose access via SFTP or an encrypted hard-drive.

Book scanning benefits

Scanning books and journals into a digital format not only acts as a secure back-up in the event the books are damaged or lost, but also has many other benefits.

  • By safeguarding the information within historical books & journals, organisations are preserving history and ensuring that people can continue to learn for generations to come.
  • Digitised documents can be shared around the world and are instantly accessed at the click of a button. This will be extremely beneficial to academics and students across the globe who require access to information for research.
  • Digitised books can be stored and accessed on a secure document management system such as FreeDocs which facilitates OCR text-searchability. This means that key pages within journals and books can be accessed by searching for specific keywords and phrases in a matter of seconds. 

We can digitise any type of book you have

In 2020 we transformed our book scanning process creating a dedicated area equipped with state of the art machinery. We can digitise books, journals and papers up to A2 in size at a resolution of 600dpi creating a quality digital replica.

We've worked with organisations spanning a range of sectors, scanning books of all shapes and sizes including:

  • Historical books
  • Notebooks 
  • Bound volumes & books
  • Publications
  • Newspapers / magazines
  • Medical journals
  • Research papers
  • Machinery manuals
  • Catalogues
  • Personal archives of books
  • Manuscripts
  • Historical letters and diaries
Do you need our services? Contact us today on 0800 612 4065
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Book Scanning Service UK

If you're looking for a secure and experienced book scanning provider, you will be pleased to know that Storetec provides its services across the UK and Worldwide.

With a dedicated logistics team, we can collect your archive of books from any office location or third-party storage provider across the UK or Worldwide. Our weekly collection points include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Newcastle, Southampton, Oxford and Wolverhampton.

If you have offices outside of the EU, we will create a tailored collection schedule utilising air freight and shipping as the primary mode of transportation.

Destructive & non-destructive book scanning 

If you're looking to arrange a book scanning project, the first thing you need to consider is can the spines be removed? Don't panic! We provide both destructive and non-destructive book scanning services to meet all your digitsation needs. 

Non-destructive book scanning

With non-destructive scanning, we will keep the spine or bindings intact to maintain the integrity of the book, volume or journal. This service is perfect is your book is of great value or is the only copy of its kind in existence. 

Destructive book scanning

As for destructive scanning, we will carefully remove the book's spine or bindings using a guillotine machine enabling a high-speed scan. We typically remove spines and bindings on magazines, manuals or books when only the digital replica is required. 

Historic Book Digitisation Services

For historical archives of books which are of great value, fragile or old, we always take extra precautions such as wearing chemical-free gloves. We will handle the books with care throughout the entire scanning process, from packing and collecting books in triple-walled archive boxes to arranging their return via our reliable logistics team. Our scanning solution enables you to safeguard the irreplaceable information within the books indefinitely.

Magazine Scanning Services

Over recent years we've frequently been asked, 'can you scan magazines into PDFs?'. The answer is YES. Our book scanners are also equipped to digitise glossy magazines in colour, up to 600 dpi, creating a quality digital replica. As with our standard book scanning services, we will always give you the option of destructive and non-destructive scanning (whether the spines can be removed or not).

If you have a substantial archive of historical books or magazines, we're more than happy to arrange a consultation free of charge. One of our experienced consultants will visit your office location and complete an audit of the documents, in addition to talking you through the digitisation process step by step.

Award-winning book scanning services

Our book scanning services have been recognised globally, and we have been nominated for and won various awards over the years. We are proud to have been named by the Document Manager Magazine as BPO/Outsourcing/Bureau Business of the Year in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Our cloud-based document management system FreeDocs also won Compliance Product of the Year in 2020.

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Why Storetec

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Accreditations

All books are digitised in full compliance with British Standard BS 10008 for the 'Evidential Weight and Legal Admissibility' of electronic documentation. Our scanning operations are regularly audited, and we're accredited to several world-recognised frameworks, including ISO 27001 for Information Security.

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Experience

With decades of experience in the document management industry, we're experts when it comes to digitising documents. Over the years we've invested in the latest scanning equipment enabling us to digitise a range of documents for some of the most well-known organisations across the world.

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Security

Our state-of-the-art scanning bureau has been designed to meet the highest standards of document management, security and protection. In addition, all Storetec staff have been fully DBS checked and have signed non-disclosure agreements for your peace of mind. 

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Ready to get started? Receive your free quote today

Connected Services

Document Shredding

Following project completion, we can arrange for your physical books to be securely shredded in line with British Standards. All paper waste is 100% recycled.

Data Capture

Taking digitisation that step further, we also provide a data capture service whereby we will capture specific information from journals or publications, creating a clear report for analysis. 

Specialist Storage

Want to keep your physical books but have no storage space? Following the completion of your scanning project, we can place your precious books into secure storage for years and decades to come. 

Do you need our services? Contact us today on 0800 612 4065