How Do I Find Microforms?   Tags: microcards, microfiche, microfilm, microprint  

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Microforms are images which have been reduced in scale from that which is readable by the unaided eye and transferred to either transparent or opaque materials. Most of the microforms in the University of Chicago Library collection are microfilm and microfiche, which are transparencies.

All microforms require special equipment to view, print, or scan them.

Transparent Microforms

Microfilm is produced in long strips, like motion picture film, and comes in 16 and 35-millimeter sizes. The microfilm strips are loaded on to reels, similar to motion picture film reels, although much smaller.

Microfiche are transparencies that come in either 3" x 5" or 4" x 6" sheets.

The Joseph Regenstein Library microforms collection contains several large microfiche collections with magnification ratios larger than 60. These, which are called ultrafiche, must be viewed on a special microfiche reader in the Regenstein Microforms Reading Room designed for reading ultrafiche.

Opaque Microforms

Opaque microforms include microcards, which are 3" x 5" and microprint, which are 6" x 9". Opaques (microcards and microprint) can have images on both sides while microfilm and microfiche, as transparencies, can have images on only one side.

Cataloged Microforms

Most of the Library's microform materials can be found by searching the online catalog or Lens. The call number is proceeded by one of the following prefixes:

• microfm (microfilm)
• microfc (microfiche)
• microcd (microcard)
• micropt (microprint)

The location will indicate which campus library houses the micoform in question. For a list of microform collection locations, see Microform Collections in this guide.

Uncatalogued Microforms

The Library's Middle Eastern Collection has an extensive collection of journals, monographs, government publications, and other published research materials on microfilm. Many of these items are catalogued and are indicated in the online catalog by the notation "Middle East Microforms." These catalogued items as well as others which are uncatalogued are listed in the MEDOC Catalogue of Microform Projects.

The Middle Eastern Collection also holds microfilm copies of approximately 2000 manuscripts from libraries and universities around the world, most of which are uncatalogued. These are listed in Manuscripts in Microformat.

Any of these items may be requested from staff in JRL 560, who will charge items out to be used onsite in the Middle East Microfilm Room (JRL 505).