ABSTRACT
Nearly everyone will use materials published or re-published in a micro-format. Many researchers' first, such experience is with older newspapers or magazines. With shelf space at a premium in most libraries, compact microforms are a valuable alternative to bulky bound volumes. Libraries also find it simpler and less expensive to acquire in microform large sets that are in heavy demand and must be updated often; college catalogs and telephone directories are examples. Microforms permit libraries to preserve for posterity texts printed on poor quality paper. The earliest micro-reproductions were opaque microcards. Transparent microfilm and microfiche are more common nowadays. Although there is some variance in scale of reduction and size of the finished product, all microforms can be viewed on simple-to-operate equipment. Besides preserving fragile publications, microform publishing also makes possible the wider distribution of out-of-print works. Even materials that were never published, such as manuscripts, archives, and dissertations, can be readily and cheaply obtained in microform.
