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Microform Collections


The National Library of Canada has numerous microform collections of significant value for Canadian historical, literary and bibliographic research. These sets of microform are held in the General Collection or in the Reference Collection of the National Library of Canada. Reproduced on microfilm, microfiche or occasionally microprint cards, these sets provide researchers with rich collections of historical titles, some of which are not widely available in original form.

For a listing of collections of microforms of particular interest to researchers in Canadian studies, please see the Selective List of Microform Collections Held at the National Library of Canada. Focusing primarily on microform sets with substantive rather than bibliographic content, this selective list includes collections comprised of numerous individual titles, many of which are held uniquely in microform format at the National Library of Canada. As official publication microform sets are not included in this list, see Official publications of Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments and Foreign and international official publications for more information about these collections.

All of these microforms can be consulted on-site at the National Library of Canada and assistance in retrieval can be obtained at the Reference desk. Microform sets that are not held in the Reference Collection can also be requested on Interlibrary Loan (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/ill/index-e.html) through your local library once the bibliographic record and reel/fiche numbers have been identified.

The entries in the Selective List of Microform Collections Held at the National Library of Canada are listed in alphabetical order by title listing and by subject listing and contain the following information:

  • the bibliographic information of the microform set;
  • the content and coverage of the microform set;
  • the location of the set in either the General or the Reference Collection;
  • the availability and location of a printed guide, bibliography or index;
  • how to access the set on-site
  • where applicable, Interlibrary Loan availability.