What is fiche?

Fiche refers to a small rectangular card that contains microform images of pages of text or documents. These microform images are typically reduced in size and are created through a process known as microphotography.

Fiches were commonly used in libraries and other information repositories as a way to store large amounts of data in a compact and easily searchable format. They were also popular among researchers and scholars who needed access to large volumes of information quickly.

Fiches come in various formats, including microfiche, microform cards, and aperture cards. Microfiche is the most common format, consisting of a transparent sheet of film with multiple microimages, while microform cards and aperture cards are similar but contain only one microimage per card.

Despite the advent of digital technology and the rise of online databases, fiches are still used in some academic and research libraries. This is because they offer a reliable backup option for preserving rare or fragile materials and provide a low-cost way to store large amounts of data.