How Do I... find microfilm?
The Libraries owns a lot of material on microforms, including newspapers, manuscripts, sets of primary and secondary sources and government information.
- Microform: Material that is printed in reduced scale on non-transparent plastic.
- Microfilm: Material that is printed in reduced scale on transparent long rolls.
- Microfiche: Material that is printed in reduced scale on small rectangular sheets. (3x5)
- Microprint: Material that is printed in reduced scale on non-transparent rectangular sheets. (5x8)
- Micro-opaque: Material that is printed in reduced scale on non-transparent rectangular sheets. (6x9)
Each of these requires special machines to be viewed and copied.
- Find Microfilms
- Read/Copy/Print
- CU Collections
- Other Collections
Search for microfilm sets using broad terms like "world war" along with "microform" in Chinook.
There are different ways you can find out what kinds of sources a microform collection contains, including online guides linked in the Chinook record, printed guides, and tables of contents and indexes that are included on the microforms themselves. Once you have determined on what reels, fiche, etc. items of interest are located, you can access them for viewing.
Reader/Printers for microforms, microfilms and microfiche are available in the Libraries.
Off-site: Most microfilm is stored in Pascal, the Libraries’ off-site storage facility. To retrieve off-site microfilm, request the materials through Chinook.
On-Site: There are on-site collections available in Norlin and Branch Libraries. View the instructions and locations below.
Norlin Library
Guides to microform sets
Norlin Library--Reference Collection--Microform Guides
Located in Research Services on the 2nd floor of Norlin (map)
Norlin Library--Government Information--Reference
Located in Government Information, 3rd floor Norlin (map)
Newspapers
Many back issues of newspapers are found in microfilm.
Norlin Library--Reference Collection--Microform
A selection is located in Research Services on the 2nd floor of Norlin (map)
Government Information
Norlin Library--Government Information--Micro
Located in Government Information, 3rd floor Norlin (map)
Please ask for assistance to retrieve these collections/guides
Science Library
Landmarks of Science: History of Science Monographs, Microprint
Landmarks of Science II: History of Science Journals, Microfiche
Located in the Science Library Reference area, 2nd floor Norlin (map)
Please ask for assistance to retrieve these collections
East Asian Collection
Norlin Library--East Asian Library--Reference
Located in the Science Library Reference area, 2nd floor Norlin (map)
Please ask for assistance to retrieve these collections
ERIC Documents
CU will scan copies of ERIC education documents and make them available to you via PDF. Request documents through ILLiad (select ERIC microfiche request in ILLiad)
Examples of Microform Sets
- 16th and 17th Century Newsletters
- Popular Newspapers During World War I
- Women at Work Collection From the Imperial War Museum
- Records of the Department of State Relating to World War I and Its Termination
- The Middle East 1856-1947
- Special Operations Executive, 1940-1946: Subversion and Sabotage during World War II
Other Libraries
Business
Business Library Microfilm
Located in the Business Library (map)
Earth Science Library
Earth Sciences Library--Microform
Located in Benson, Earth Sciences (map)
Engineering
Engineering, Math, Physics Library--Office
Located in the Engineering Library (map)
Music
Located in the Music Library (map)
Microfilm sets can also be requested from other libraries:
- Search the catalog and select reproduction type "microfilm, microfiche or microopaque"
- Scholars and researchers from CRL member institutions have free and unlimited use of the CRL collections through interlibrary loan. The loan period is unlimited, but is subject to possible recall notice.
- Search Worldcat and limit search to microform under Subtype limits
- Select "Request from ILLiad" and login with your identikey.
