Periodicals Desk: Using Microform Reader/Printer

Microforms are reduced photographic reproductions of printed material on film (microfilm) or film cards (microfiche) that can be viewed and photocopied using a microform reader/printer.

A large amount of library resources, especially periodicals materials, such as, journal and newspaper articles, are preserved in a microform format in order to preserve the shelving space.

The video- & Web-based activities in this section are designed to assist, promote, and assess your comprehension about how to use a microform reader/printer to read and photocopy materials imprinted on microfilms and microfiche cards.

Sequence: Click on each box to explore the activities in the order as shown.

Using Microform Reader/Printer

1	2	3
		FINAL CHECKLIST
Reading/Printing Microfiche	Reading/Printing Microfilm

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Reading/Printing Articles from Microfiche Cards

A microfiche is a sheet of film containing rows of micro-images of pages of printed materials. In order to read or photocopy the printed materials on these microfiche cards, you need to use the microform reader/printer.

Complete this fill-in-the-gap activity (1) to assess your background knowledge about microfiche.

View the following video clip, which will explicitly show you step-by-step instructions of how to use the microform reader/printer. Pay attention to these steps:

1) How the microfiche cards are loaded.

2) How to navigate the pages.

3) How to adjust the clarity on the image screen.

Video Clip

Reading/Printing Articles from Microfiche Cards

Incorporate the information learned from Step 1 and Step 2 to complete this fill-in-the-gap activity (2).

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Reading/Printing Articles from Microfilms

A microfilm is a roll of film bearing a photographic record on a greatly-reduced scale of printed materials. Like microfiche cards, reading and photocopying materials on microfilms has to be done with a microform reader/printer.

Ask yourself this question: Do you think it would require the same procedures to read the materials on a microfilm as it is for reading materials on microfiche cards? If you have the answer, move on to the activity in Step 2.

View the following video clip, which will explicitly show you step-by-step instructions of how to use the microform reader/printer. Pay attention these steps:

1) How the microfilm roll is loaded.

2) How to navigate the pages.

3) How to wind back the film into its reel.

Video Clip

Reading/Printing Articles from Microfilms

Incorporate the information learned from learned from Step 2 to complete this fill-in-the-gap activity.

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Let's move on to the Final Checklist

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Don't forget! If needed, you may replay the video clip
again and again and again and again...
before checking out the answer clues!