Guide to ERIC Microfiche Duplication

The ERIC system, including the database and collection was established in 1966 to collect, index, and disseminate educational research that was not covered well by traditional publishing methods. The ERIC database is a collection of records which describe articles or documents. The document collection consists of documents authored by education and other professionals in the education setting.

The collection includes research reports, program evaluations and descriptions, policy documents, teaching and curriculum materials, and a host of other relevant material related to education. As of summer 2000 there are over 440,000 ERIC documents available in the collection. Each database record includes an accession or document number, a full citation, and a summary (abstract) of the document.

Topical Coverage of the ERIC database includes coverage in:

  • Adult & Early Childhood Education
  • Educational Administration & Finance
  • Child Development
  • Higher Education
  • Vocational & Consumer Education
  • Teacher Education & Teaching
  • Elementary & Secondary Educaton
  • Reading and Literacy
  • School Health & Counseling
  • Many other Education topics

Using a computer, the ERIC database may be searched by keyword, author, document type, descriptors (subject headings), or any combination of search types. Once a search is completed results will be shown in a title list. You then mark titles for viewing or printing, or e-mailing.

After searching the ERIC database your search result may include citations to documents in the ERIC document collection. These citations and abstracts include an accession number beginning with "ED" followed by a six digit document number. (For example: ED 473-291).

Sample of an ERIC database document record

View a sample document

Locating ERIC records with "ED" numbers?

The full texts of most items in the ERIC document collection are available on microfiche in the ERIC document collection. The documents are arranged in the file cabinets by the ED number.

  • In your ERIC search results, note the ED number at the top of the ERIC record. This line begins with "Accession Number".
  • Go to the ERIC microfiche collection files in the Education Library, third floor, Sangren Hall.
  • Use the labels on the file cabinet drawers to locate the drawer which contains the "ED" number you want.

Microfiche Duplication Service

The Education Library will duplicate any ERIC document on microfiche.  The cost is 25 cents per sheet (microfiche), the capacity of one microfiche is about 90 pages, some documents may require several microfiche.

Because the microfiche duplication equipment takes a few minutes to warm up, this service requires a wait of 15 to 20 minutes.

Microfiche Readers

The Education Library has several portable microfiche readers available for loan at the Reserve Desk. These readers are compact and resemble a small brief case. Portable readers are loaned for 7 days. If you wish to have microfiche duplicated, or if you wish to borrow a microfiche reader, go to the Education Library circulation desk. Note: You must be a student, faculty, or staff at WMU to be eligible to borrow a microfiche reader.