How it Works
Microfiche is a subtype of microform, a term used to describe several mediums that provide storage for exact, miniaturized copies of documents. Unlike microfilm, which producers spin into a reel, microfiche is a flat sheet of film. These thin, flat cards take up less space than microfilm and do not require a separate canister for storage.
It is impossible for the human eye to read microform as is, one must use a specially designed machine. These machines include a magnifier and a simple projector that allows the user to read the greatly magnified image or document on a screen. These machines are usually expensive and can be found in institutions that use microform documents, such as libraries or government offices.
Advantages
The advantages of microfiche include its storability: Even a small storage cabinet could hold thousands of cards which, in turn, contain tens of thousands of pages of material. In addition, computers or specialized software is not required to read a microform document. Unlike some digital storage methods, such as CD-ROMs, microform is also remarkably stable and, if kept in a temperature controlled environment, can last as long as 500 years.
Libraries, museums and businesses that own valuable or important documents also value this data storage method as a way of providing researchers with access to important records and archives without significant risk of loss or damage. Since it is impossible to read without a special machine and has no aesthetic value of its own, microform data is of little interest to thieves. If a card becomes damaged, the organization that owns the original document can have a new one created.
Disadvantages
Microfiche lacks the portability of digital files: Special equipment is needed to both read and duplicate the cards. Microform readers, for example, are bulky and aren’t as accessible as personal computers. Making a paper copy of a microfiche also requires using a special printer integrated into the machine. It is usually impractical to use color ink in microform, meaning that documents are usually stored only in black and white.
Researchers may also have difficulty using microform documents. For example, if a needed document is only in microfilm or microfiche, a researcher may have to travel to the physical location where the record is actually stored. If the data was in digital form, the researcher could receive the data via email or a document sharing system and then read it on his or her personal computer. Machines used to read microforms are also cumbersome to use, sometimes requiring the user to scroll through the documents in order to find needed information. Digital data, on the other hand, is easily and quickly searched through the use of specialized software.
