Reference > Databases & Resources > Microfilm

Cary Memorial Library's microfilm collection includes

• New York Times from 1900
• Lexington Minuteman from 1871
• Boston Globe from 1979
• Magazines of news and comment such as Time and Atlantic Monthly.

Microfilm FAQ

Q. Can I print articles from the microfilm readers?
A. The library has two microfilm reader printers which allow the user to read microfilm. You may choose to print articles onto paper at a cost of $.25 per page.

Q. If the Library doesn't have the microfilm I need, can it be borrowed from another library?
A. Microfilm can often be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan and used at Cary Memorial Library.

Q. May I bring in my own microfilm?
A. You may bring in microfilm or microfiche you have obtained from another source. It can be read and information from it printed out onto paper.

Q. Can I find the purchase price of a stock I bought years ago?
A. One of the most popular uses of newspapers on microfilm is in ascertaining stock prices at the time the stocks were purchased.

Q. What other sorts of historical information can I find?
A. Events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the sinking of the Titanic, and the first walk on the moon take on greater meaning when seen through the news coverage of the day.

Commemorative events such as anniversaries and birthdays are enriched by the perspective of the passage of time.

Youngsters enjoy seeing the newspaper as it was on the day of their births.

Research on the history of Lexington almost always necessitates references to the local papers.

Early records of Lexington provided by the Lexington Historical Society can be accessed through microfilm.