Return to Help Finding...Microforms
Microforms - An Illustrated Glossary
Microforms: a generic term for media used to store reduced size text and/or images on film or paper. The term usually refers to microfilm or microfiche but also includes micro-opaque formats: microcard and microprint. The generic term microtext is also used.
Microform publishing provides: low-cost access to large and/or rare print collections that are unavailable in other formats, or too costly to reproduce in standard paper form; preservation of and access to content in fragile materials such as newspapers; replacement of missing of periodical issues, and minimal storage requirements. Below are photographs of the various formats and the machines for viewing and for some formats, copying and e-mailing the images.
Microfilm is 16 mm or 35 mm wide positive or negative film on a reel. Each reel is usually stored in a box. You wind it on a microfilm reader in order to view it through a lens.
Microfiche is a sheet of film or plastic, usually 4” x 6”. One sheet is often part of a larger set, each sheet is stored in an envelope and placed upright in a file cabinet. Insert the microfiche sheet between the glass plates in a microfiche reader to view the image through a lens.
Microcard is an opaque card that is typically 7.5 x 12.5 cm, or about 3" high x 5" wide. Microcards are no longer published. and so microcard readers are becoming rarer and more difficult to maintain. The microcard/microprint reader in Wilson Periodicals is shown below. To copy from a microcard, See Interlibrary Loan staff for options.
Microprint is a larger card, approximately 23 x 15 cm, or 9" x 6" and often stored in cases about 4" wide. See the pictures below. Microprint are no longer published. To copy from microprint, See Interlibrary Loan staff for options.
Viewing, Saving, Printing and E-Mailing Images from Microforms
Microform Scanners the newest equipment, on which you can read, and if you wish, scan images from film or fiche and e-mail it to your U of M account or an e-mail account capable of receiving large files. Send one image per e-mail. See photos below.
How do I get a printed copy of a microfiche or microfilm item in the University Libraries?
Each Microfilm/fiche scanner includes two machines: a reader on which to view and adjust the film or fiche images, and a connected computer that scans the image and can save to disk or send a large TIF file to an e-mail address.
|
||
Microfilm Microfilm is a 16mm or 35mm wide reel of film containing multiple photographically reduced images. Each reel is usually stored in a box. The boxes may be on shelves or in cabinets.
|
Microfilm Reader Place the reel on the left side, slide the first few inches of the film between glass plates, and feed the leader of the film into the empty reel on the right side of the machine. Detailed instructions are posted on or near the machine and in our FAQ. |
|
Microfiche Microfiche is a small, usually 4" x 6" flat sheet of film or plastic containing multiple photographically reduced images.
|
Microfiche Reader Readers have two plates of glass that separate slightly when you pull the tray toward you. Insert the sheet of fiche facing up, with the title/top nearest you. Detailed instructions are posted on or near the machine, and in our FAQ |
|
Microcard Microcards measure 7.5 x 12.5 cm or 3" x 5".
Microprint uses 23 x 15 cm card stock or 6" x 9".
|
|
Microcard/Microprint Reader The same machine is used to view microcards and microprint. This Microcard reader is located in the Wilson Library Basement Microfilm area, just before the Current Issues section of Wilson Periodicals. For detailed instructions see the sheet posted on the table next to the Microcard reader. There is no equipment for copying from microcards. Ask our Interlibrary Loan staff about obtaining a copy of the item. |
|
|
||
Return to Help Finding...Microforms
This page was last updated: August 4, 2005 Contact page author