Microforms
In the pre-digital age, documents were scanned and stored as reduced-size page images on film or printed on cardboard-like photographic paper. Specialized equipment is required to read, print, and save pages from these materials. The library's microforms collection has materials in all of these formats and provides the equipment and knowledgeable staff to help people use it.
A growing number of works held in the library's microforms collection are available online through open access resources and discoverable in OneSearch.
Microfilm
MicrofilmMicrofilm is very small photographs of the pages of a printed document arranged sequentially on a roll of film.
Microfiche and Ultrafiche
Microfiche is very small photographs of the pages of a printed document arranged in a grid on a sheet of film typically measuring 4 by 6 inches.
Ultrafiche is like microfiche, only the page photographs are reduced 90 times or more.
Microcard and Microprint
Micro-opaque cards are like ultrafiche printed on heavy photo paper.
Microcards are index card size, about 3 by 5 inches.
Microprints are about 5 by 7 inches.
Microcards and microprints cannot be read using the same equipment as film or fiche because the cards are not transparent like film.
View and Scan Microforms
A ScanPro 3000 scanner is located in Room 156 for viewing and scanning microfilm, microfiche, or ultrafiche. Microforms collection and scanner access is currently available by appointment only.
You will need:
- A USB flash drive to save your files. Small files may be sent by email.
To get started:
- Log on to the computer with your username and password.
- Click on the Power Scan 2000/3000 icon on the desktop.
- Click on the Help button to view the ScanPro User Guide.