How to Use Microfilm

Seen those odd machines in the library that look like computers, but are not? Well, they are actually machines that allow you to access very useful documents that have been shrunk down into acetate form. Unlock a new level of knowledge by checking out the microfilm.

This video shows:
- Where to find microform (microfilm and microfiche)
- How to use the microform machines with microfilm
- How to print using the microform machines

More videos on the channel!

Voice over by Sasha Watson (SUSU Vice President Academic Affairs)

[cg]

When I was in college (mid-90s) then my masters program ('97-'00) I spent a lot of time looking up journal articles and viewing them on these and microfiche. The idea is that paper degrades over time plus with so many students handling it, it accelerates the process even further. When I talked to some people that are in college or grad school now, I found that they don't use them much anymore and that everything is on the computer now, most likely scanned into PDF or a similar format. In fact when I mentioned microfilm and microfiche they had no idea what I was talking about.

[Shlooomth]

I've never used one of these and this is so cool. Looked it up because Stephen king references it and I wanted to know what it looked like. Good video.

[dannytadashi]

I used to know how to Use microfiche when I was 16 years old back in 1982 at Alameda Naval Air Station in Northern California.

[WolfDOuka]

Question, how do you keep those films clean? I would imagine that fingerprints would easily make an impression on those reels!

[lovedichoreo]

We had something similar to this when I was in school.  It was used to watch/view movies and follow along with a story

[murkypuddle]

Thanks dude. I can't wait to study history on a new level! Is there anyway to convert this? What's the best way to get a picture of this?

[alstinson]

0:40 He's adamant about doing it gently. I see he doesn't trust us! :(

[geebees]

I'm going to be honest there, I'd never seen one in real life so watching old tv shows I got curious but couldn't figure out exactly how this machine worked.

[ibrahimqwasmi]

Hi.. I have a problem with my microfilm, can you help me?

[annales]

hi guys I have a bell howell 2800d model, and I was trying to disconnect the lens to clean it and I cannot put it back. I would be most grateful for any help 😁

[asecretone]

I love that overseas its called a microfilm machine but in the US it has the more European/fancy name of microfiche. :D

[mimosa]

I think that digitizing these resources is shortsighted, as far as humanity is concerned. What if there is an enormous outage or an inevitable Collapse (climate change literally guarantees it within our lifetimes) with everything stored online rendered useless, and no physical backup of these records would exist either. What would we do, then? We need physical backup of everything. The shortsightedness disturbs me.

[MariusMerchiers]

Aren't these microfilm being digitized?

[WedgePee]

The Social Security Administration did a large study on supercentenarians (people aged 110+) back in 2000–03 and used microfilmed early-life census returns to validate the claimants’ ages (as most of them didn’t have birth certificates).

It normally worked well, but a few false cases such as Lucy Hannah (allegedly "117") slipped through the cracks.

[balimotovlog]

Oh ini ya yang ngasih duit un swissindo

[dannytadashi]

I used to know how to Use microfiche when I was 16 years old back in 1982 at Alameda Naval Air Station in Northern California.