Microforms

Give the software time to complete a command before issuing another

1. OSU faculty, staff or student login using your last name.# and password.  If you are not OSU faculty, staff or student please go to the Circulation Desk on the 1^st floor northwest corner of the building and request a visitor pass for logging in to the computers running the reader/scanners.  Be sure to tell CIRC that you will be using the microform reader/scanners.  A picture id maybe required so be ready to present one if asked.  Because the computers use a DUO authentication system, when prompted you will need to acknowledge a code which will be sent to your cell phone.
2. After logging in look for the Power Scan 2500 icon, it should be on the top left side of the monitor.  Double click on the icon.  Shortly thereafter a picture of a fiche reader should appear in the middle of the monitor and the ScanPro software will open.  {Note if you get an error message claiming the scanner cannot be found, reach to the middle back of the scanner and turn the toggle switch off, count to three slowly, and flip the toggle switch back on, and click the Power Scan icon again.  If you hear a grinding noise do not be alarmed, it is just the scanner and CPU syncing.
3. Select the media type you wish to view.  The scanner can handle microfilm, microfiche, and microopaques (i.e. microcards and microprint).
4. Once you have selected your media type it is time to load

1. If using microfilm be sure to have selected the correct reel width.  (16mm is about the diameter of a finger, while 35mm is 2 fingers.)  Most film reel are 35mm.  Place the reel on the left spindle so the protrusion on the spindle slots into the indent in reel core and the film is coming off the top of the reel.  Next after positioning the tray between the two armatures pull the tray towards you until the glass pops up.  Guide the film to the back and under the large grey roller assemblage on the left side of the tray.  Thread it between the right side of the roller assemblage and the two small grey rollers.  Between the glass halves.   Pull the film over the two small grey rollers on the right side.  Thread the film between the two rollers and the right-hand roller assemblage then up to left side of the take-up reel, slipping the end of the film into the slot on the take-up reel and finally give the take-up reel a couple of clock-wise turns to firmly seat the film on the reel.  Push the tray back away from you.  (To check if you have threaded the microfilm correctly refer to the threading diagram on the top of the acrylic stand on the right side.  Or watch the YouTube video in the Microforms Resource Type Guide <https://guides.osu.edu/microforms>).
2. If using microfiche be sure to determine if it is positive (light background dark writing) or negative (dark back ground, light writing) and select the appropriate microfiche type.  Carefully position the tray between the two armatures.  Pull the tray towards you until the glass pops up.  Place the fiche face down with the top of the fiche facing the back of the tray.  Push the tray back away from you, sandwiching the fiche between the two pieces of glass. 
3. If using either microcards or microprint follow the instructions for microfiche tray placement.  Lay the microcard or microprint face-up on the tray with the top at the back of the tray, and then push the tray away from you to close.  Please note that if you are viewing a microprint because of its size it will be necessary to rote the microprint so that the bottom of the card is facing the back of the tray so that you can view the rest of the text.  You also will need to adjust the rotation.

5. Now that you have your microform loaded it is time to begin viewing it.  The first step is to locate some text so that you can adjust the focus, etc.  Icons for the various possible adjustments will appear on a menu on the far-left side of the screen.  Once you have a sample page click on auto adjust located on the upper left-hand side of the adjustment menu.  Take a look at the results, it may be necessary to straighten the page, adjust the focus, etc. a bit more to get the clearest results possible.  It may also necessary to rotate the image 90 degrees depending on how the pages were filmed so that you read the contents comfortably.

1. For Microfilm the controls to advance or reverse the film are on the bottom of the screen.  On the left are two arrow shaped keys that are your fast forward/fast reverse.  The control for slow advance or reverse are on a sliding bar.  Move the slide to the right of the midpoint and the images on the screen advance, to the left and the images reverse. If the slide is in the center the image stays put.  Be careful not the totally wind the entire contents of the film reel onto the take up reel.
2. Microfiche is manipulated by moving the tray right to left or back and forth.  Basically, if you want to view the text on another page move the tray the opposite direction.  Most fiche is read from left to right, top to bottom.  [If you do not see an image on the screen, check to see if the correct setting for film type on the adjustment menu has been selected.  A blank screen may indicate the scanner thinks it is viewing a microcard or microprint instead of a fiche.  Click through the three settings until a positive image appears on the screen.]
3. Microcards/microprints are handled in the same way as fiche.  Microprint however because of their size will need to be rotated so that you can view the bottom half.  When you rotate it will be necessary to readjust your settings.

6. To scan a page(s).  First position the green box around the part you will be scanning.  {Note the more white that is inside the box the better the scan will be.}  Next click on the Export button located adjustment options list on the left-hand side of the screen.  A small screen will pop up.  Select where you want to save your scans – it is suggested that you save to the desktop.  Name your scan.  Finally set the scan type to PDF multi-page even if you think you will only be making one scan.  Finally tell it to scan.  A small box will appear on the screen.  Carefully drag this page aside were it will not interfere with your viewing.  Go to the next page you want to scan.  You can either hit the scan button in the small box or the Export button on the adjustment options list.  You will notice that the number at the top of the small box has advanced from 1 to 2, etc.  Continue until you are done with your scan session, then click the button in the small box on the right-hand side that closes the session and allows you to view your PDF.  When scanning microfiche, it may not be necessary to reposition the green box as you move from page to page, but with microfilm most of the time you will have to adjust the box and possibly the alignment.
7. You are done.  You are ready to remove the microform from the scanner.

1. To rewind the microfilm carefully position the tray between the two armatures and pull it towards you.  When the glass pops up, a small blue button to the left of the fast forward/reverse arrows will acquire a lime green ring in the center.  Double click on this button and your film will automatically rewind.  Remove the reel from the spindle and place it in its box.  If you have more film to look at go back to Step 4, otherwise if the microfilm came from MIC place it on the cart at the end the microfilm newspaper cabinets.  If it was checked out from CIRC return it there and get a receipt.
2. To remove microfiche carefully position the tray between the two armatures and pull it towards you.  When the glass pops up, remove the fiche and place it back in its envelope if there was one.  If there is more fiche to be viewed go back to Step 4.  Otherwise place the MIC fiche on the cart at the end of the microfilm newspaper cabinets or if checked out from CIRC return to CIRC and get a receipt.
3. Follow the steps above for microfiche for microcards and microprint.

8. Now that you are done scanning and have logged out of Power Scan, the question arises as what are you going to do with your PDFs.  If the files are small enough you can email it (them) to yourself or you can load them onto a thumb or equivalent device which you brought with you.
9. Remember to log out of the computer totally by double clicking on the Log Off icon at the bottom left corner of the monitor.