Microforms are miniature text or images copied into film slides or roll for long term infomation in an easy to decode visual fashion. It is often preferred over other archival techniques for its future proofness and data density.
However current method of accessing microfilms is a manual affair.
Can't
we encase a microfilm rolls(type of microform as a reel) in a case, that is easy to handle by robot and read as easily as a cassette tape? This automates retrieval and reading of microfilms.
What this allows for, is for people to access microform information over the internet. In addition, to help encourage access of microform infomation since you can cache the last thousands of accesses in a SSD [Which will also help preserve microforms from wearing if its used alot].
Of course for those who prefer looking at microfilms physically, its not hard to have the robot retrieve it physically to you, and have you open up the transparent hinged casset to access the roll itself for manual reading or preservation treatment. (The archival info would be probably encoded as an RFID and paper label on the reel.)