Microforms Collection

Location:  Alden Library, 1st floor Phone:  (740) 593-2658 Hours:   All Library hours In-Depth Assistance:  8:00-5:00 M-F Contact:  Jeff Ferrier, ferrier@ohio.edu

The Collection houses the "general collection" for microform; the Health Sciences Library and the Government Documents Department have their own microform collections--everything else is here. Types of materials in microform include:

• journals and newspapers
• early and out-of-print books
• U.S. federal census schedules for southeastern Ohio
• primary research materials such as collected personal papers and correspondence
• organizational and governmental archives from various countries
• local government records

Types of Microforms

The largest portion of the Department consists of more than 3 million units of microform, the equivalent of more than 2 million book volumes. Microform can be loosely defined as material containing miniaturized images requiring some form of mechanical aid for reading. Types of microform found in Alden Library include:

• Roll microfilm on 16 or 35 mm reels
• Microfiche (from the French for "slip" or card), flat sheets of plastic generally 4 x 6 inches, some are 3 x 5 inches
• Ultrafiche are like microfiche, but stiff laminated cards with highly reduced images, containing 340 to over 2500 images (pages) depending on type and size
• Micro-opaques. Here the image is reproduced on an opaque (white) card stock rather than transparent plastic. A company called Readex Microprint Corporation manufactured 6 x 9 cards called Microprint containing up to about 100 miniature printed pages. Other companies (Microcard Editions in particular) produced 3 x 5 inch or 4 x 6 inch cards called microcards.

Since disadvantages outweigh the advantages, micro-opaques and ultrafiche are no longer used for publishing library materials.

The differences in format basically determine the location of microform on the shelves or in the cabinets and it is important to note the specific format on the ALICE record. The same principle applies to other non-book formats in the Department.

Borrowing Policies

In general, microformed newspapers, periodicals, and materials within sets may be borrowed for three weeks. In most cases, microforms are available for borrowing through OhioLINK and Interlibrary Loan. Reference materials, local government records, master negatives, and certain specific titles do not circulate.

Since there are special procedures for checking microforms out of the Library, please bring any materials you wish to check out to the Service Desk on the first floor, not the circulation areas on the 2nd or 4th floors.