Digitisation, Archiving, and Distribution of Photographic Data from Schmidt Surveys

The limititations to the use of data from the major Schmidt surveys, i.e. grain noise as well as practical considerations of image processing and astrometry, are discussed, together with the question of mounting films on microdensitometer platens. Next, the major scanning systems dedicated to Schmidt surveys, their accomplishments, and their future programs are considered. Finally, the archiving and distribution of the scan data is discussed, and some suggestions regarding future directions are made.