This module guides you through the process of conducting microforms research, with a research exercise that focuses on the BC historical newspapers index. If your specific research interests lie elsewhere, the general information will still offer an introduction to working with microforms. As always, you should also ask for help from staff if you are unsure how to approach this type of research in a specific library or archive.
What are microforms, microfilm, and microfiche?
Microform is the general term for micro-reproductions of documents.
Microfilm is a kind of microform. It is a reel of film.
Microfiche is another kind of microform. It is a flat sheet of film.
Both microfilm and microfiche require special readers (machines) to view the materials.
Why do microforms exist? Why would you need to do research using them?
Because they reproduce sources in a compact form, microforms allow libraries and archives to hold large amounts of material in a much smaller space. Other advantages include the facts that microforms are fairly easy and cheap to produce and circulate, it’s a comparatively stable technology, and they are hardier than they seem. These points mean that microforms can help with the preservation and protection of documents that might be valuable, fragile, and/or in high demand.
Because of these characteristics, microforms are particularly useful for the reproduction and circulation of common documents such as newspapers, government records, literary records, and other printed sources. If you are doing research that involves or focuses on these types of sources, you might discover that they are only available or locally accessible to you in a microform format.
Where do you find them?
If you are based at UBC, then you might want to start to build your microform research skills there. UBC Library’s micoforms are available for “self-service” (ie. you find and use them on your own, like most books in the library, rather than requesting them from staff members, like in the archive). They are located on the second floor of Koerner Library, where they are available on open shelves or drawers. The readers are located nearby. There is a “Help” desk in this section of the library, which is typically staffed at high-use times of the day; as always, ask for help if you need it. You can also find more information about Koerner’s Microforms section in the UBC Library’s helpful research guide.
Many other libraries and archives also contain collections of microforms. If you are not based at UBC, or if you are undertaking research in a different location, then you might undertake this module in another location. As always, the specifics will vary by institution, and regardless of where you are, you will quickly discover that each microfilm reader is slightly different from the last. However, the general principles and skills outlined in this module should continue to hold true.
On the next page, you will find a description of this module’s research exercise. If you are working through this module in order, advance to that page now.
If you prefer, you can use the menu below to navigate to specific research stages and skills in the module:
- Research exercise: using microfiche and microfilm, with a focus in British Columbian historical newspapers in the UBC Library.
- Locating microfiche, using the BC Historical Newspapers index.
- Loading and reading microfiche.
- Locating microfilm.
- Loading and reading microfilm.
- Browsing in microfilmed newspapers.
- Reflections and further questions to consider.
- Module review: testing your learning.