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Microform Collection

The MU Libraries have one of the largest collections of microforms in North America. All microforms in Ellis Library except United States government documents, United Nations documents, ERIC documents, college catalogs, and telephone directories are centralized in the Special Collections. Specific collections and guides are listed in the right column.

Microform materials technically are any materials containing miniaturized images requiring magnification to be viewed. Microform in Special Collections may be available in four different formats, microfilm (FILM), microfiche (FICHE), microcard (MICD), and microprint (MICPT). Below is a list of locations for quick reference.

Print indexes and guides to microform collections are designated SPEC REF in MERLIN and are located in room 406. These materials are for library use only, but patrons can consult them during all library hours. Additional microform guides are listed in the right column of this page.

Format

MERLIN Location

Description/Location in Ellis Library

Microfilm

SPEC FILM

Microfilms are rolls of film with either 16 or 35 mm width.

Newspapers, periodicals, and most film books are located in rooms 406 and 404, accessible to patrons during all library hours.

Items designated FILM BOOK 0001, FILM BOOK 0002, FILM PER, and FILM MISC, in addition to some other collections, must be retrieved by Special Collections staff during Special Collections hours.

Microfiche

SPEC MICF

Microfiche (MICF) are 4" x 6" film sheets holding 40 to 98 pages of text.

These materials are kept in storage and must be retrieved by Special Collections staff during Special Collections hours (except for microfiche copies of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, located in room 303).

Microcard

SPEC MICD

Microcard (MICD) are 3" x 5" opaque cards which are viewed by a special reader or reader printer. Although obsolete now, a number of collections are in this format.

All microcards and the machines to view them are located in Room 303. Copies can be made on a machine in Government Documents on the first floor.

Microprint

SPEC MICPT

Microprint (MICPT) are 6" x 9" opaque cards similar to microcards.

All microprint and the machines to view them are located in Room 303. Copies can be made on a machine in Government Documents on the first floor.