low-graphics version

introduction:

Microforms are photographic reproductions of printed materials which are reduced in size and placed on a film medium. Four types of microforms are in use at the Brown University Library: microfiche, microfilm, microprint, and ultrafiche. Each format requires equipment to project the image to readable size and to make printed copies. The Brown University Library receives a wide variety of materials in microform. Many individual titles are listed in Josiah; however, many titles issued as parts of sets or collections are not cataloged, and the primary access to these is through indexes and other finding aids. The staff at the Reference Desks in the Rockefeller, Sciences, John Hay and Orwig Libraries can provide assistance in locating and using microforms. You may also submit a reference question online.

microfiche:

Note: The Library will be cancelling the bulk of its current periodicals on microfiche at the end of this year. Thus while we will retain what we have, with only a few exceptions current content will end with 2003.

Microfiche are 4 by 6 inch clear sheets of film with 96 frames on each sheet. Microfiche may be either positive (white background with black letters) or negative (black background with white letters). Most of Brown's collection is the latter.

collections::

The Rockefeller Library holds the largest collection of microfiche. Its collections include heavily used periodicals, such as titles listed in the Readers Guide, Humanities Index, and Social Sciences Index as well as large sets such as the Gerritsen Collection on Women's History, British Parliamentary Papers, United Nations publications and the ERIC Microfiche collection. It also has United States government publications, including the Federal Register, Declassified Documents, and a large number of committee and hearing prints. The Sciences Library's microfiche collection is mostly United States government publications, e.g., Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Energy "Reports".

location:

At the Rockefeller Library, microfiche is located in the Hecker Center on the ground floor. Microfiche are housed in cabinets and filed by call number (either Library of Congress call numbers or Superintendent of Documents call numbers). Patrons may help themselves or request assistance at the Reference Desk or in the Serials or Government Documents Offices.

At the Sciences Library, microfiche are located on Level A adjacent to the current periodicals display area. Assistance during weekdays is provided by Serials staff and at night and on weekends from the Reference Desk.

At the Orwig Music Library, microfiche are located in the Reference Room. Assistance is provided by the staff on duty.

equipment:

There are microfiche reader/printers in the Periodicals Reading Room and in the Hecker Center in the Rockefeller Library. Assistance in the use of the machines is available from the Reference Desk or from staff in the Serials Office.

Paper copies from microfiche can be made on any reader/printer. Copies are 10 cents per page. Serials Department staff can assist with the operation of the machines.

At the Sciences Library, there is a reader/printer in the microform area on Level A. Copies are 10 cents per page. Assistance is provided by Serials staff weekdays and from the Reference desk on evenings and weekends. At the Orwig Library there is a reader/printer in the Reference Room. Copies are 10 cents

microfilms:

Microfilms strips of 35mm (or 16mm) wide film rolled onto a reel. Microfilm may be positive or negative. Brown's collections are mostly the former.

collections:

Brown's microfilm collections include many newspapers (such as the New York Times,Boston Globe, London Times,Providence Journal); collections of materials on single subjects (such as Early English Books, American Poetry 1609-1900); and periodicals (many American and British titles prior to 1977).

location:

At the Rockefeller Library, microfilm is shelved in one of two places. Microfilm for current newspapers (the New York Times, Boston Globe, Providence Journal, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc) is shelved alphabetically by title in the Periodicals Reading Room. The remainder of the microfilm is shelved in the Hecker Center in large storage cabinets. Indexes and guides to microfilm collections and sets are shelved in Hecker Center. At Sciences, microfilm is filed by call number in cabinets in the Level A microform center. At Orwig, microfilm is filed in the microform cabinet in the Reference Room.

equipment:

At the Rockefeller Library, microfilm reader/printers are available in the Periodicals Reading Room and in the Hecker Center. Assistance is available from the Reference Desk or in the Serials Office.

Paper copies from microfilm may be made on the reader/printers. The cost is 10 cents per copy.

At the Sciences Library, microfilm reading and copying is done on the reader/printer located in the microform center on Level A. At the Orwig Library microfilm copying is done on the reader/printer in the Reference Room.

microprints:

Microprints are images reduced and printed on opaque card stock, usually 6" x 9" in size.

collections:

Some major sets are in microprint format, including Early American Imprints.

location:

Microprints are shelved in the Rockefeller Library's Hecker Center. A reader/printer is located is also located there; copies cost $.10. Help in the use of microprints is available from the Reference Desk or in the Serials Office.

ultrafiche:

Ultrafiche resemble microfiche, but are smaller in size and the reduction is greater. The only ultrafiche collection at Brown is the Library of American Civilization which is shelved with the microfiche in the Hecker Center. An index to the collection is also located there as is a reader. Paper copies cannot be made from ultrafiche. Assistance in the use of the machine and in locating ultrafiche is provided by the from the Reference Desk or the Serials Office.

microforms in special collections:

the serials/microforms staff: