microfilm
n. C / U B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmaɪkɹəˌfɪɫm// UK //mˈaɪkɹəʊfˌɪlm// mi·cro·film
n. a small roll of film that holds a tiny copy of a document or book. You use a special machine to look at the tiny images and read the text.
n. a photographic film containing a series of highly reduced images of documents, books, or other materials. Typically requires a specialized reader or projector to view the content.
The library keeps old newspapers on microfilm.
Before digital archives, researchers had to use a microfilm reader to access historical records stored in the basement.
The transition from physical archives to digital databases has rendered microfilm a largely obsolete medium, though many institutions still maintain these fragile rolls for long-term preservation.