The Microforms collection contains materials in microformat, such as newspapers, journals, dissertations, monographs, U.S. government documents, genealogical materials, and manuscripts. Materials held in microform are identified by special location symbols preceding the call number: (MC) for microfiche, (MF) for microfilm, (MP) for microprint, and (MFC) for print guides to major microform sets.
Microform is a generic term for all media used to store greatly reduced text or graphic images usually on film or paper. These images can be magnified then viewed, copied or scanned with special microform equipment. The extensive UWM Libraries microform collection includes the three most common microformats:
Microforms are arranged in call number order. Most microforms are located in cabinets, and patrons may retrieve materials themselves. There are some exceptions, including Government Documents, Congressional Information Service (CIS), and American Statistical Index (ASI) microfiche. Current Periodicals/Microforms staff will retrieve this material for patrons.
To find a call number, search the Online Catalog. Search by title, journal title, subject, author, or by corporate author. Computer terminals are located in the Research and Instructional Support Area, first floor, west wing, the Current Periodicals reading room, and in various locations throughout the building.
Special equipment is available for viewing and printing microfiche, microfilm and microprint. The CP/MF staff will help locate material and will give instructions in the use of microform equipment. In general, microforms do not circulate and cannot be removed from the Microforms reading room. Library staff will reshelve all microforms. Please return items to the wire baskets located throughout the room.
Selected microforms circulate to faculty and staff for a period of seven days. Graduate students who wish to borrow microforms must obtain a faculty authorization card to do so. Microforms must be checked out at the Microforms service counter. Note: Certain archival and government microforms do not circulate.
The UWM Libraries receive publications in microfiche format through the Federal Depository Library Program. These microfiche are arranged in drawers by SuDoc (Superintendent of Documents) number. The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications is an online index to U.S. Federal Government publications and can be used to locate SuDoc numbers for titles on microfiche.
Other U.S. Government collections on microfiche located in Microforms include the CIS U.S. Serial Set [index available (REF) Z 1223 .Z9 C65], Congressional Information Service or CIS Microfiche [index available (REF) KF 49 .C4x], and the American Statistics Index or ASI Microfiche index available online through LexisNexis Statistical.
For questions concerning government publications, please contact the Government Information Librarian at (414) 229-6690.
The microform area houses the Libraries' Archives microfilm collection, which includes selected items from the Milwaukee Area Research Center. This microfilm set will be of particular interest to Genealogy researchers since it contains, among other material, birth, death, marriage records and provides property and probate records. Other researchers will be interested in the Collection's records of prominent Milwaukee-area citizens and organizations.
For finding aids and detailed information, contact the Division of Archives and Special Collections or call (414) 229-5402.
These guides provide finding aids for records from selected major microform research collections which are either available at the UW-Milwaukee Libraries or may be requested through InterLibraryLoan. Researchers can search the databases by keyword or browse through the digital versions of the print guides by title or subject.