Frequently Asked Question about
McFarlin Library's Collections

A lot of the journals seem to be on microfiche and microfilm. What's that and how can I make copies?

Answer:

Many of the back issues of the magazines and journals to which McFarlin Library subscribes are available only on microfiche or microfilm. These are stored in the large metal cabinets on the west side of the Lower Level. Microfiche and microfilm are not the same. Microfiche are small plastic cards. Microfilm is stored on reels.

The microfiche and microfilm are filed in the cabinets alphabetically by the title of the periodical. Each drawer is labeled to indicate which journal titles it contains. When you have found the drawer with your journal, open it. There is usually more than one journal in each drawer. Find your journal, then look for the issue you need. The volume number and date of each issue is found at the top of every microfiche. If you're looking for microfilm, each drawer is full of boxes and each box contains a reel of microfilm. Every box is marked to indicate which issues it has on the reel.

Once you have found the issue you need, remove it from the drawer and take it to one of the Microform Reader/Printers to view and/or copy the article you need. The four microform reader/printers are located on the Lower Level North. These machines allow you to view and copy material stored on microfiche or microfilm. There is no charge to make copies from either the microfiche or the microfilm.

When you finish with the fiche or film, please place it in one of the baskets provided by each reader/printer. Please do not try to replace this material in the cabinets yourself.

Periodicals in these cabinets may be identified in the library's catalog by the word "Microfiche" or "Microfilm" under Call # in the box at the bottom of the record for the publication.