You might think of microfiche machines are normally as just a fixture in libraries, but many businesses can also benefit by purchasing a machine from microfilm and microfiche viewer manufacturers. Many auto shops, for example, use microfiche to archive pictures of car parts.

Microfilm and microfiche have similar qualities, but buying machines and printers are different. Microfilm is attached to a long reel while microfiche is a flat negative, usually with smaller photographs.

The pricing and costs of microfilm and microfiche viewers will depend on many factors, some of which include:

1. Whether you buy a used or new microfilm reader.

2. Type of machine you want to buy, including readers, scanners or printers.

3. The additional costs of supplies, such as ink for microfiche printers.

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Choose microfilm viewers to read various types of microfilm

Microfilm is often used for larger photographs and documents, such as newspapers and magazines. This is often the least expensive way to archive these mediums, so libraries all over the world still use this system. Microfilm viewers cost $800 to $1,000.

I recommend: If you are in the market for a microfilm scanner, Kodak can provide one of the most popular models of microfilm viewers. The South Carolina Department of Archives & History has many useful facts about the use and storage of microfilm.

Buy a microfiche machine to work with microfiche documents

While microfiche is similar to microfilm, the machines used to read them are very different. Microfiche does not come on a continuous roll like microfilm does. Instead, microfiche comes in flat sheets so you can fit many picture and document scans on one large surface. Microfiche machines cost $150 to $400.

I recommend: The MicroColor International Handheld Scanner is perfect for anyone who needs the convenience of a portable scanner. It's also cheaper than traditional microfiche viewer terminals. The Microfiche Equipment Gallery provides information on common microfiche machines, plus a large directory where you can buy bulbs and replacement parts for your machine.

Consider machines that function as both microfilm and microfiche viewers

Even though microfilm and microfiche are printed differently, you can still find viewers that give you the option of reading either type. These machines generally cost in the $500 to $800 range.

I recommend: The PrintMaster from Eye Com is perfect for those who need to read both microfilm and microfiche. TASI provides solid advice on using your microfilm and microfiche collection, and the best way to go about digitizing it.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that the cost of the reader or scanner is not the only price you will have to pay. You will also need to purchase microfilm supplies, such as new lenses, ink for printers, and other materials to keep your machine in good working order.

You may remember microfilm viewers from school and public libraries. In the early 20th century, microfilm became a way to preserve documents like newspapers, magazines and even books written on paper that rarely stood the test of time. With today’s digital formats for saving documents, you don’t see microfilm as often. However, it is there and can be an option for businesses that deal with large amounts of information.

Processed film known as microfilm contains a huge amount on information in a single roll, with images 25 times smaller than the original size. A single microfiche, a flat piece of film the size of an index card, easily holds up to 400 pages. No computer or special software is needed, just a magnifying glass, although a microfiche viewer makes reading easier.

Microfilm and microfilm machines come with the following advantages:

1. Film takes up much less room than paper, reducing storage space needs up to 95%.

2. It can be cost effective to make copies of microfilm.

3. Microfilm can last up to 500 year and has even survived natural disasters such as flooding.

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Determine whether microfilm is right for you

Decide what information you need to store. The government and libraries deal with such a large amount of paper that it makes sense to convert it to film and use microfiche viewers. Another common use for microfilm is engineering drawings, which can be stored at 3% of the size of original drawings.

I recommend: Find out what’s involved in converting to microfilm at OCLC. If you own microfilm, but want to convert to digital images, contact Family Toolbox.

Locate companies that convert information for microfilm viewers

Writing documents into microfilm or microfiche (microphotography) is done with special cameras or computerized devices. Most businesses that use microfiche viewers outsource the actual conversion to document conversion firms. Not all document conversion companies use microfilm supplies and technology; you have to ask.

I recommend: Start with Microfilm Services, a company experienced in converting into microfilm. Another company with microfilm experience is SyTech Solutions.

Read data with a microfiche viewer

While technically it's possible to read microfilm and microfiche with a magnifying glass, you really don't want to. You need a microfilm reader to project film onto a screen for viewing. You'll find both desktop and portable microfiche viewers-readers, plus some readers that allow printing to paper.

I recommend: Compare the various microfilm and microfiche viewers to decide what is right for you.

Scan documents with specialized microfilm and microfiche viewers

Another method to print from microfiche or microfilm viewers is through microfilm scanners. A microfiche viewer and scanner can convert images to hard copies or to other digital formats. Look for a microfiche machine with scanning functions.

I recommend: Check the microfiche scanners offered by RisTech.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you see a need for access to information in over a hundred years, consider microfilm, which will always be in a readable format, unlike continually upgraded digital formats.
• •  Spend time planning storage and operating systems for microfilm that includes at least one microfiche machine.
• •  High humidity attracts a fungus that eats the gelatin used in the microfilm binding process. If you're in a tropical location, you must use a diazo-based system that doesn't last as long as standard microfilm.
• •  Due to its lower cost, more businesses choose black and white microfilm over color.

Microfilm and microfiche viewers are vital tools for anyone doing research or needing historical or statistical information. The machines are used to store data such as newspaper articles, genealogical charts, census records and statistical data. Microfilm machines can be beneficial to any business that relies on statistical or historical data.

It's important to learn how to properly use a microfiche viewer and how to research subjects in an efficient, time-saving way. Learning to use microfiche readers and printers efficiently will make business research easier and more cost-effective. Make sure your microfilm and microfiche viewers education and training includes:

1. Learning how to operate a microfiche machine.

2. Looking for educational data on microfilm and microfiche viewers.

3. Using microfilm viewers for business research purposes.

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Learn to load and use a microfiche viewer

Although many view microfilm and microfiche viewers as antiquated research tools compared with computers, they actually provide a wealth of research data and statistics useful for many businesses. It's important to learn how to load and operate a microfiche machine correctly in order for it to be an effective research tool. Read guides and manuals to learn how to use microfiche viewers.

I recommend: Download "All About Micrographics", provided by Altek. It teaches you about microfilm and microfiche machines and their uses. Gottesman Libraries provides a detailed user's guide to turning on a microfilm viewer, scanning and finding articles on the reels through a downloadable PDF. You can also learn how to save data.

Look to educational institutions for microfilm viewers training

Microfilm and microfiche viewers can be used to research a wide variety of data and information beneficial to your job or business. It's important to learn how to find exactly what you're looking for and how to print or save it if necessary. Learn how to perform all operating functions with microfiche viewers.

I recommend: The user's guide provided by the Warburg Institute gives step-by-step instructions for using,scanning and printing with microfilm and microfiche viewers and features pictures to make the process easier to understand. Read the basic instructions provided by one of the libraries at the University of Minnesota to use microfilm and microfiche viewers and download their instructions on how to email, save or print material.

Get microfiche machine operation and troubleshooting training from libraries

Microfilm viewers are easy to use but will occasionally malfunction, and it's important to know how to troubleshoot any operating problems you might encounter while using a microfiche scanner. Learn to use microfiche machines properly to minimize problems and how to correct any problems that do happen.

I recommend: The usage and troubleshooting guide from HKUST will help you learn to operate a microfiche viewer and fix any problems you encounter. Visit Penn State's Libraries page to view the materials they have available on microfiche and microfilm scanners and download their step by step user's guide to operating the machines.

Microfiche and microfilm media require specific technology to read and process stored data. To understand the technology, you need to know the equipment and the basics of the media itself. Microform encompasses both microfiche and microfilm; the former is compressed information on a slide, while the latter is compressed information on film strip.

Get to know more about the technology by learning microfilm and microfiche viewers key terms. Knowledge of microform viewer options aids in a more expert selection and usage of equipment. Types of equipment, standard parts of the machines, and the machine capabilities are included in this basic microfilm and microfiche information.

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Carrier

A carrier is the device inside the reader that holds the film in place.

I recommend: Check out the definition for carrier along with several of the types of carriers at Australasian - Digital Microfilm Equipment - DME.

Hand mewer, hand-held viewer

A hand mewer is a hand-held microform viewer.

I recommend: Visit Microfilm-India.com for a hand mewer definition. For visual examples of hand-held viewers, see The Microfilm Shop.

Magnification, oversize, full-size, partial-size

The magnification of a microform reader refers to the size at which the data is viewable on the reader screen. Oversize magnification requires some scanning to gather all the document's information. Full-size information reproduces the information to size. Partial-size magnification shows the data at a smaller ratio than the original document.

I recommend: For more information on magnification and the various magnification choices, go to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Microform reader

A microform reader is a viewer that has the ability to read both film and fiche media.

I recommend: For more information on microform readers, check out The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library.

Optical character recognition, OCR

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a type of program that takes microfiche and microfilm media and converts it to a more usable text format.

I recommend: See JISC Digital Media for information on microform viewers and Optical character recognition technology.

Gamma correction

Most readers will offer a gamma correction feature which allows the user to alter the contrast of the image to make it easier to view.

I recommend: Creekside Digital has a glossary of several terms, including gamma correction, relating to the quality of microfilm viewing on the reader.