Questions? Contact me.
- Lynn Jones
- Office Hours: by appointment or Skype me: lynn.jones1000
- Office Location: 212 Doe Library
- Contact Info:
510 768-7643
Before digital storage became easy and cheap, microfilm was a way for libraries to maintain large collections of newspapers, government documents, and historical documents while saving physical storage space. The UC Berkeley Libraries still have extensive microform (microfilm and microfiche) collections, containing valuable information for researchers.
Since each roll of microfilm contains thousands of tiny images of the original pages of a document, you'll need a microfilm reader to magnify the images enough to read them. The UC Berkeley Newspapers and Microforms Department (40 Doe Library) has machines that read, print, and scan images from microfilm and microfiche.
Microfilm and microfiche owned by the UC Berkeley Libraries can be found through OskiCat; use Advanced Keyword Search to limit your search to "All Microforms." In the News/Micro collection, microfilm rolls and microfiche cards are shelved with their own numbering system; click here for a PDF of the collection's floorplan.
If the library location in OskiCat says "Newspapers and Microforms" it is referring to the Newspapers and Microforms Collection, 40 Doe Library.
To get there, enter the north entrance of Doe Library (the side facing Memorial Glade and the East Asian Library). Walk straight ahead until you reach the marble stairs; do NOT take the stairs, but instead turn right and go down the hall until you see stairs to the basement. (There is an elevator around the corner). Once you go down the stairs or elevator, the entrance to the Newspapers and Microforms collection should be directly in front of you.
Floor plan of Doe Library, 1st floor | Floor plan of Doe Library basement
The collection's hours are 10-7 M-Th, 10-5 on Fridays. The collection is not open on weekends, and microfilm cannot be checked out.
There are a limited number of machines -- please plan ahead! Be sure to bring a flash drive so you can save scanned copies of the microfilm to your disk. Scanning is free, but printing from the microfilm reader/printers is 10 cents a page. You MUST use your Cal1 card to pay for printing.
In the News/Micro collection, microfilm rolls and microfiche cards are shelved with their own numbering system; click here for a PDF of the collection's floorplan.
Don't hesitate to ask for help! The News/Micro staff are experts in the use of the machines.
You can save images from microfilm or microfiche to your flashdrive, in pdf or tiff format. You can use the scanning process to improve, crop or otherwise adjust the image-- very useful for old, scratched microfilm.
A large part of the library's collection is stored off campus in an environmentally secure building called the Northern Regional Library Facility [NRLF].
Submit online requests via the REQUEST button in OskiCat to borrow material shelved at NRLF. To receive electronic or paper copies of book chapters or journal articles, submit an online request via the "Request an article from NRLF (photocopy or web delivery)" link that appears in eligible titles in OskiCat. Staff at public service desks of any campus library can assist you with further questions.
Log in to Request with your Calnet ID and fill out the screens. Choose the volume you want, for periodicals:
You will need to search Oskicat to find the journals in your source base.
Source Base: Agriculture, 1866-1945
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Farm journals |
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The Cultivator and Country Gentleman |
NRLF |
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The American Agriculturist |
NRLF, NEWSMICRO |
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The American Farmer |
NEWSMICRO, PROQUEST |
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The Prairie Farmer |
NRLF, NEWSMICRO |
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The Progressive Farmer and Southern Ruralist |
NRLF |
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California farm journals |
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The Pacific Rural Press |
BIOS, NRLF |
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California Countryman (UCB agricultural journal) |
BIOS |
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The Business Farmer |
BIOS |
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Orchard and Farm |
BIOS |
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The California Cultivator |
BIOS |
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Other periodicals |
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The National Economist (Populist newspaper) |
UCSC (interlibrary loan) |
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The Banker-Farmer |
NRLF |
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The Farm Worker (Berkeley) |
NRLF |
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Rural Missions (“A journal devoted to the improvement of rural life around the world”) |
NRLF |
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The Bureau Farmer (American Farm Bureau Federation) |
NRLF |
To find books, DVDs, maps, sound recordings, manuscripts, and much more - everything except articles - use a library catalog.
OskiCat = UC Berkeley libraries
MELVYL= all UC campus libraries, including all UC Berkeley libraries
What's the difference?
For each item make sure you know the name of the physical library, call number, and whether or not it's checked out, library use only, etc.
Suppose you know the name of the journal, newspaper or magazine you want. Does Berkeley own it? Search Oskicat to find out.
