Books are timeless sources of knowledge, history and memories—but physical copies can be fragile, bulky and difficult to access. Whether you’re a university with rare archives, a business with important reference materials, or an individual with treasured family volumes, book scanning services can help you digitise books safely and effectively.
At ProScan Document Imaging in Southampton, we specialise in non-destructive book scanning, turning delicate pages into high-quality digital files that are easy to preserve, search, and share.
Why Digitise Books?
Digitising your books provides benefits that go far beyond saving space:
- Preservation – Protect fragile, rare or out-of-print books from further damage
- Accessibility – Access your collection anytime, anywhere, on any device
- Searchability with OCR – Our OCR book scanning creates searchable PDFs, making it easy to find keywords, references or chapters instantly.
- Sharing – Digital files can be securely shared with students, colleagues or family.
- Space saving – Free up shelves, storage rooms or archives by moving to digital scanning services.
Challenges of Scanning Books
Unlike loose documents, books require extra care when being digitised. Some common challenges include:
- Tight bindings that prevent pages from lying flat.
- Fragile or ageing paper that can tear easily.
- Curved pages causing distortion in images or text.
This is why professional book scanning companies like ProScan use specialised equipment and processes to ensure both accuracy and preservation.
How ProScan Document Imaging Scans Books
Our team has extensive experience with scanning archival documents and books, using methods designed to protect the original volume while producing clear, accurate results:
- Non-destructive scanning – we do not cut spines or damage bindings.
- Specialist equipment – designed for bound materials, even fragile volumes.
- High-resolution scans – ideal for both text and detailed illustrations.
- Multiple formats – choose from PDF, TIFF, or JPEG depending on your needs.
- OCR technology – for searchable, editable and accessible digital files.
Whether you need one rare book preserved or an entire library digitised, our document and book scanning services provide professional, reliable results.
How to Prepare Your Books for Scanning
To make the process smooth, here are a few steps you can take before sending books for digitisation:
- Prioritise your collection – Decide which books or archives are most important to preserve first.
- Check condition – Identify any fragile areas so our team can give them extra care.
- Decide on file format – A simple PDF may suit reading, while searchable OCR files are ideal for research or academic use.
The End Result
With ProScan’s book scanning services, you’ll receive a collection of professional, high-quality digital files—ready to use, archive, or share. You’ll keep the original book intact while gaining all the convenience and security of digital access.
Book Scanning Services in Southampton
At ProScan, we provide trusted document scanning and book digitisation services for libraries, universities, businesses and individuals across the UK. From fragile historical volumes to everyday reference books, our team ensures the best possible care and quality in every scan.
Contact us today on 023 8063 0050 or visit our Book Scanning Services page to find out how we can help you digitise your books.
