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Microfilm and Microfiche

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Microfilm reel on a microfilm machine. Image Credit: [1]
A library patron making use of the micofiche index at a London lending library. Image credit: [2]

Contents

Microfilm and Microfiche


Microfilm and Microfiche are two types of Microform, which are micro-reproductions of archived documents that are made for [easier] transmission, storage, reading, and printing. Microfilm and Microfiche, which come in reels and flat sheet formats, have been used in libraries since the mid-20th century as a preservation strategy for deteriorating newspaper collections. Books and newspapers that were deemed in danger of decay could be preserved on film and thus access and use could be increased. Microfilming is also a space-saving measure[3].

Usage Today


Microfilm and Microfiche are infrequently used today by patrons. Instead, many institutions are working to scan the images into computers, possibly to put them up on an Internet-accessible archive. This process posits a whole new set of challenges, as it is a time-consuming process done my hand, and the technology platform the archives are being moved to may be rendered obsolete in the near future, as technology and software turnover is so high.

References


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