Microform is a general term used to describe any material that contains a small image or micro-reproduction.
Types of microforms
The two most common formats are microfilm and microfiche.
- Microfilm is a roll of film
- Microfiche is a flat sheet of film
The library has materials in both film and fiche formats.
Purposes of microforms
Microforms help preserve materials that deteriorate rapidly but they also save space. Thousands of newspapers, records, or government documents can be stored in just a few cabinets.
Devices that read microforms
Because the images are so small, special readers/scanners are used to view the documents. These readers can also be used to scan the image and either print or email it.
Microform readers are located on the 2nd floor of Lied Library near the Graduate Commons.
Library microform collections
The library has a variety of historical materials and newspapers available on microform.
