Types of Microforms
Transparent film negative image wound on reels; also available in cartridge format. The reels of microfilm are arranged on numbered rows of shelves to the right of the service desk. Journals and newspapers in the first nine rows are arranged in alphabetical order by title; examples of titles include the New York Times from 1851 to the present. The microfilm titles in rows 10 through 18 are arranged in call number order and include collections covering various topics, for example: Black Literature in the 19th and 20th Century, Abstracts of Ben Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette, 1728-1748, etc.
Opaque positive image in large card format. Microprint collections are located on the top level of the microfilm shelves. Examples of collections in microprint are the Collected Writings of Albert Einstein (1901-1956) and 18th Century English Drama.
Transparent film negative image in card format. The microfiche collections are located in cabinets to the left of the service desk. Collections on microfiche are shelved in alphabetical order and include ERIC Documents (Educational Resources Information Centers) , Pitt theses, United States government publications, and Joe Louis Scrapbooks 1935-1944.
Opaque positive image in card format. The microcard collection is also housed in cabinets. Examples of material on microcard are Nineteenth Century American Literature: The Ohio Valley, Great Britain Laws-Statutes 1225-1713 (Colonial Series) , Theses (U.S. late 1800's- 1950s).