MICROFORMS

MICROFORMS

Microforms are any forms, either transparent or opaque, ie, films or paper, containing micro reproduction of documents for transmission, storage, reading, and printing in roll or sheet form. Microform images are commonly reduced to about one twenty-fifth of the original document size.  

These are too small to be read with naked images. Hence some reading equipments called Micro Readers are used to enlarge the images.

The major forms of micro forms are Microfilm, Micro card, Microfiche and Ultra fiche.

Microfilm: Microfilms are micro-transparencies on cellulose in the form of rolls.  It is a film in which printed materials are photographed at greatly reduced size for ease of storage. It consists of miniaturized images printed onto a reel of film. It allows for very compact storage of books and documents.

The four standard width of Microfilms are 16mm, 35mm, 70mm and 105mm

Microfiche: A microfiche is a flat film 105 x 148 mm in size. It carries a matrix of micro images. The most commonly used format is a portrait image of about 10 x 14 mm. At the top of the fiche a title may be recorded for visual identification.  

Ultra fiche: It is an exceptionally compact version of a microfiche or microfilm, 
storing analog data at much higher densities. It can be created directly from computers using appropriate peripherals. They are typically used for storing data gathered from extremely data-intensive operations such as remote sensing.

Microcard: It is a photographically produced micro-opaque card of 7.5cm X 12.5cm used for storage of miniaturized text. It is printed on papers and access to information is faster than that of mocrofiche. But it can give clear images only in darkrooms.

Microprint: It is a microphotograph reproduced on paper and read by a magnifying device. It is used in order to reduce the size of large books, etc. It is not produced by the copying process but by printing a special offset process. Each microprint contains 100 pages of text arranged in rows of ten. The information about the content is printed across the top and can be read with naked eyes.

USES OF MICRO FORMS

Microform saves space. Microforms constitute a superb media for storing huge volume of information in a limited space. It take up less than one-tenth the space of paper copies and  allowing you to keep more of the publications your users need for immediate access. 

Microform is durable. Microforms aren't as susceptible to loss, theft, or damage as paper publications, and have an almost indefinite life expectancy when properly stored and handled. 

Microform is cost-effective. The cost generally compares favorably to the cost of binding paper copies, especially when you take into account the hidden costs associated with binding, such as staff time. 

Microform is convenient. Convenient to order...to file...to maintain...and to use with today's equipment. 

Easy access to Backfiles: Microform provides access to backfiles and less frequently used publications. You can guarantee users access to all the articles cited in a database, especially those found in less current sources. 

Easy to access Electronic Devices: Images can be easily sent to remote locations using microform viewer/scanners, which link to your computer workstations, letting you view and print articles or digitize and transmit them electronically.

High Quality Preservation: Microforms provides a suitable method to preserve rare and costly materials by keeping the original material safe and secure.

Easy Cataloging: Microform can be cataloged and shelved according to a record-keeping system much like  Library cataloging systems for books and provides full-image support for electronic index databases.  

Long Life Expectancy: Microform is produced under a carefully developed process that has been static for more than 100 years.