Citing Microforms

Since most microform materials found in the Library are simply photographic, miniature reproductions of what had been once a full-size newspaper, book, or magazine, actually citing the format of the publication should be avoided. Noting in the bibliography that your article from the Journal of Applied Psychology, for instance, was on microfilm, might lead the reader to think that the Journal of Applied Psychology is an exclusively microfilm publication. Information from these sources, then, should omit any reference to microforms, and should be cited as if you used the original.

The rare exception to this rule is when the nature of the publication is essential information. The fact that you used the microform version of the Journal of Applied Psychology would be important in, say, a study comparing usage of microfilm and paper sources in research. Another instance when the format is important is when the publication is only available in a microformat, such as a letter included in a collection of personal papers, or an ERIC document, to name a few.

The following web sites provide additional documentation and citation styles for citing microforms.

• Research Guides by Format provides a listing of print and web-based citation guides for MLA, APA, Chicago, CBE citation styles, and more!
• California State Polytechnic University Library provides an excellent guide to citations, including more complex examples, such as formatting materials available on microform (microfiche, microfilm).
  For example:
  Groark, James J. Utilization of Library Resources by Students in Non-residential
  Degree programs. ERIC, 1974. ED 121 236.

  Note how in this example, the resource follows the format for books and includes the name of the information service supplying the microform.