Mikrofiche

Mikrofiche is a flat sheet of photographic film used to store microforms. It is a miniaturized version of paper documents, typically containing a collection of pages from books, periodicals, or other documents. Each mikrofiche sheet is usually 105 by 148 millimeters in size, corresponding to the ISO A6 paper format. The images on the fiche are reduced in size by a factor of 24 or 42. Original documents are photographed onto the film, and the resulting images are arranged in a grid pattern. A title is usually printed along the top edge of the fiche, allowing it to be identified without magnification. Mikrofiche was widely used for archival purposes, library catalogs, and the distribution of technical documentation before the advent of digital storage. Specialized readers are required to view the microfilmed images, which magnify them back to a readable size. Advantages of mikrofiche include its high storage density, durability, and resistance to fading. However, its use has declined significantly with the rise of digital technologies, which offer easier access and manipulation of information. Despite this, mikrofiche remains a valuable medium for preserving historical records and for situations where digital access is not feasible.