Microfilm, Microfiche, Micro-opaque

Format:

Mainly film in rolls. Occasionally available on microfiche (individual sheets of film). Rarely, historical content is available on now superseded opaque card stock (micro-opaque).

Examples:

The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times; Black and international newspapers at the  and at the International Coalition on Newspapers (ICON) catalog.

Content:

Full runs of major U.S. newspapers in Olin; shorter runs of smaller newspapers. No color.

Pros:

Historical completeness; original page format; very good preservation medium, easy to borrow from other libraries via ILL (esp. Center For Research Libraries).

Cons:

Not current; lack of indexing; difficult to access (specialized machinery, localized physical access--not networked; some poor reproduction). All microfilm needs to be either used at the Library Annex or delivered to another library location using the Request button in the catalog record.

Access rating:

Fair.

Preservation rating:

Very good.

Notes:

Invaluable for historians, historical research.