 CHAPTER 14: This chapter explains what
microforms are and when to use Interlibrary loans.
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 Microforms
The library has over 1.5 million pieces of microforms. Why so many? Before publishers started putting newspapers and magazines online many just photographed each issue and reduced the images to fit into small, thin plastic sheets or film reels. Instead of keeping hundreds of bundles of periodicals like magazines and newspapers in storage, you could fit several issues of each into a single roll of microfilm or in a couple of pieces of microfiche. Not only was this a space and cost saving measure that continues to this day, but properly taken care of, microforms last much longer than their paper and newsprint counterparts. Albertsons Library's sizeable microforms collection contains a variety of formats that encompass everything found in libraries such as maps, reports, journals, newspapers, studies, pamphlets, and more. As more magazines and newspapers become available online you can also find older editions in the stacks or in microform collections. The most common type of microforms available at the library are :
a. Microfiche - flat, transparent, card-shaped (usually 4"x 6") photographic film of microimages
Collections like the original Human Relations Area File and ERIC (Educational Resource Information Center) documents are on flat microfiche cards. The Early American Imprints collection for 1639 through 1800 was published as a series of Microcards. Since microforms are hard to read with the naked eye you need special machines called readers. Most microfilm/fiche readers allow you to print black and white copies of whatever film/fiche you have access to, though it should be noted that most--if not all--of the microfilm and microfiche in the library is photographed in black and white. Interlibrary Loans In the course of your research, sooner or later
you’ll need a book that Albertsons Library doesn’t own. Or perhaps you’ll find a
citation to what sounds like the perfect article for your paper, but it’s from a
journal we don’t subscribe to. In such cases, Interlibrary Loan (ILL) can be
very helpful.
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Most back issues of
the major newspapers in the library, such as The New York Times
(1857 to present), The Wall
Street Journal (1923 to present), The Washington Post (1974
to present), and many more are stored in large microfilm
cabinets.