Microform Machines

Owned by Import Utility
Last updated: Dec 10, 2020 by Sam Simpson
4 min read

Department:

Circulation

Purpose:  

The Christopher Center houses both Microfilm and Microfiche available for use by our patrons. We also have machines that are capable of reading, scanning, saving as a file, and printing of Microforms.

Overview:   

Microform readers are in place to allow patrons to use Microfilm and Microfiche from our collection as well as other libraries.

Required Knowledge/Skills:   

N/A

Safety Issues/Precautions:   

N/A

Equipment/Supplies:   

Microforms, Microform Readers, Printers, Computers

Procedure

  1. ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer and Optiplex 960 computer:
    1. To turn on:
      1. Depress the white power button on the upper right of ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer to turn on. (Computer will not work unless ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer.)
      2. Turn on the Optiplex 960 computer by depressing the power button located on the upper front right of the CPU.
  • Be sure that the Viewer-PC button, located on the lower left of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer, is lit up indicating that the PC option is chosen.
  1. Log on to Optiplex 960 computer using your LDAP username and password.
  1. Loading Microform:
    1. Microfiche:
      1. Raise the lens arm to the fiche marker and adjust the lens to face downward
      2. Pull the Microfiche tray forward so it is located about the light on the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer.
      3. On the right front of the Microfiche tray of the ST200X Series, Digital Film Viewer is a small toggle switch. Press the toggle switch from the left off position to the right on position. (The Microfiche tray should illuminate.)
      4. Change the Viewer-PC button, located on the lower left of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer from PC to Viewer.
      5. Position the lens so that it is facing the Microfiche tray.
      6. Lift up on the knobs on the Microfiche tray of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer.
      7. Place the Microfiche on the Microfiche tray, and lower the glass.
      8. Use the knobs to move the Microfiche tray to find the needed information.
      9. If the screen is out of focus use the “AF” button, located on the lower right of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer to autofocus until clear.
    2. Microfilm:
      1. Lower lens arm to the film marker and adjust the lens to face downward.
      2. Change the Viewer-PC button, located on the lower left of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer from PC to Viewer.
      3. Place Microfilm on the spindle to the left, making sure that it is hanging down to the right of the machine.
      4. Pull Microfilm under the white roller.
      5. Push the black lever, under the silver push label, to the left to open the Microfilm window.
      6. Pull Microfilm under Microform window.
      7. Close Microform window.
      8. Pull Microfilm under the second white roller.
      9. Slide end of Microfilm into the Take-Up Reel, and turn once.
      10. Make sure that the silver switch, to the left of the first spindle, is set in the upper position.
      11. Depress the right red button slightly to load more Microfilm into the Take Up Reel.
      12. Use the grey left and right buttons to advance or reverse film to find the needed information. The black knob can be used to change the speed of the buttons. The black Browse switch fill continually advances or reverses the Microfilm depending on the direction pushed.
      13. If the screen is out of focus use the “AF” button, located on the lower right of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer to autofocus until clear.
    3. Scanning image:
      1. Once the image is found change the Viewer-PC button, located on the lower left of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer from Viewer to PC.
      2. Launch the “ScanWrite” program from the Desktop.
  • Click anywhere on the screen to begin.
  1. If the ST200x ViewScan Twain DS screen has been closed click the “Scan Images” button on the upper left of the screen.
  2. Click the “Live Preview” button to get an image from the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer.
    1. To adjust image:
      1. Change the Viewer-PC button, located on the lower left of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer from PC to Viewer.
      2. Adjust image on ST200x Series Digital Film Viewer.
      3. If the image is out of focus use the “AF” button, located on the lower right of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer to autofocus until clear.
      4. Once the image is found change the Viewer-PC button, located on the lower left of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer from Viewer to PC.
    2. When the image is correct click the “Capture” button.
  • Click the “Send to PC” button if the image is correct, otherwise return to step v.1.a-d until the image is correct.
  1. Editing image:
    1. Close ST200x ViewScan Twain DS screen.
    2. Select the “Edit Image” button in the upper left of the screen.
  • Select the image to be edited.
  1. Use options on the bottom of the screen to:
    1. Crop image
    2. Change the orientation of the image
    3. Change Brightness/Contrast of image
    4. Other Advanced Image Adjustments.
  2. Click “Save Image” at the bottom right of the screen when satisfied with the image.
  1. Sending the image to USB:
    1. Insert the flash device into the computer.
    2. Click the “Send to USB” button on the upper middle of the screen.
  • Select images to be sent.
  1. Select file type to be sent to the flash device.
  2. Click the “Send to USB” button on the left middle of the screen.
  3. Click OK.
  1. Printing image:
    1. Click the “Print” button on the upper middle of the screen.
    2. Select images to be printed.
  • Select print orientation.
  1. Select image scaling.
  2. Click the “Print” button in the middle of the screen.
  3. Click OK.
  1. Unloading Microform:
    1. Microfiche:
      1. Lift up on the knobs on the Microfiche tray of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer.
      2. Remove the Microfiche on the Microfiche tray, and lower the glass.
      3. Return Microfiche:
        1. Library owned Microfiche can be placed in the “Return Microforms Here” wooden box on file cabinets.
        2. Interlibrary Loan Microfiche can be returned to the Circulation Desk.


  1. Microfilm:
    1. Depress left red button until Microfilm has been rerolled onto the original reel.
    2. Remove reel from the spindle.
    3. Return Microfiche:
      1. Library owned Microfiche can be placed in the “Return Microforms Here” wooden box on file cabinets.
      2. Interlibrary Loan Microfiche can be returned to the Circulation Desk.
    4. Turning off machine:
      1. Optiplex 960:
        1. Close ScanWrite program. All unsaved images will be discarded.
        2. From the start menu, select “Shut Down”.
      2. ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer.
        1. Depress the white power button on the upper right of the ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer to turn off.
      3. HP Laserjet 1300 CLR HP 1300-01
        1. Items printed from ST200X Series Digital Film Viewer will print here.
        2. Paper outage:
          1. Paper may be taken from Copier Rooms to replenish the printers.
          2. Open paper ream and insert into Paper drawer, making sure that the paper does not go above the top of the paper drawer.
        3. Paper Jam:
          1. Alert IT to which printer is experiencing a paper jam.
        4. Toner outage
          1. Alert IT to which printer is out of toner.