Swem Library's microform collection consists of approximately 1.2 million pieces of fiche, film, and cards. It includes a large variety of books, magazines, journals, pamphlets, and newspapers, as well as primary source materials such as diaries, personal papers, government records, and organizational proceedings and minutes.
The microform collection and reader/printers are available whenever the library is open. Click here for schedule of library hours.
The main microform collection is located on the ground floor of Swem Library and consists of several separate collections, each with its own arrangement (see below).
Titles noted as being in Government Information-MF are located in the Government Information Department Microform collection on the first floor of Swem Library.
Many of Swem's microform titles have paper guides and indexes.
Newspapers: Paper and electronic indexes are available in the Reference Dept. for various years for the New York Times, London Times, Le Monde, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, Richmond Times-Dispatch and Virginia Gazette. Check at the Reference Desk for location.
Magazines and journals A variety of print and electronic indexes are available for periodical titles. Check at the Reference Desk for help in identifying the ones you need.
Microfilm sets: Individual titles from some large microfilm sets are available in the library catalog under author, title or keyword. These sets are Early English Books(Wing), American Periodical Series, Papers of the NAACP, Records of Antebellum Southern Plantations, Dime Novels. Paper indexes and guides to other sets are kept in the Reference Dept. collection. For call numbers, check the library catalog. Early English Books, Eighteenth Century, and the American Periodical Series are available online.
Microfiche sets: Individual titles from some large microfiche sets are available in the library catalog under author, title, or keyword. These sets are American Autobiographies, Black Biographical Dictionaries, and selected parts of the Sabin collections. Paper indexes and guides to other sets are kept in the Reference Dept. collection. For call numbers, check the library catalog.
Microcard sets: Titles from Early American Imprints (2nd Series) are available in the library catalog. Paper guides and indexes are also available for this and other microcard sets.
One microfilm reader/printer-scanner and three microform reader/printers are located on the ground floor near the microform cabinets. The microform reader/printer-scanner allows micoform documents to be scanned and saved to various drives, a CD, or a flash drive. Prints can be made from this machine on 8"x11" paper or 8"x17" paper. Instructions are posted beside each machine. Each good copy costs 10 cents per page and is paid for at the Circulation Desk. There is one microfilm reader and one microcard reader which do not have print capability.
In the Government Information area, there is one reader/printer-scanner and one read-only microfiche reader.
The Microform Collection is managed by the Serials Acquistions staff. If you have any questions about identifying or locating specific titles or using the reader/printers, please call for assistance. Telephone numbers are posted at each machine. Serials Acquisitions provides assistance, Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00. The Reference staff and E-Swat team provide assistance on nights and weekends. Tthe telphone numbers are posted for them, also.
