Did you know that the Illinois Room has microfilm? Like a lot of it?! Not only does microfilm still exist but it is available for use at your local library.
In the Quincy Public Library's special collections of Genealogy & Local History materials (better known as the Illinois Room), we have the Quincy Herald Whig on microfilm dating back to the 1830s. We also have a few older state census records, local German language newspapers on microfilm from ye olden days, & some estate records on microfilm.
If you want to feel like a tried & true researcher, we also have an old school microfilm reader in the Illinois Room. You can weave the spool into the top & the light will project the microfilm on the bottom, in a legible size. Unfortunately, the older microfilm reader does not come with print capabilities but have no fear - we also have a microfilm reader that is more technologically advanced. You can see the microfilm on a computer screen with that one, scale articles to various sizes, rotate the newspaper any which way, & print what you are looking for.
We have also patrons bring their own microfilm to read on the Quincy Public Library's microfilm reader!! Also, our microfilmed newspapers are available for reading on the Historic Newspaper Archive, via the library website: Digital Archives of the Quincy Public Library :: (advantage-preservation.com)
All microfilm & microfilm readers in the Illinois Room are available for public use but not available for check out. It all must be used within the Illinois Room. Additionally, library staff is available for whatever your microfilm needs are. :)