Abstract: To facilitate reading by reducing eye movement, reading matter recorded on microfilm is arranged in a column with not more than 26 characters, including spaces, per line. The microfilm record is read with the aid of an apparatus which optically magnifies the record and advances it continuously at a controllable speed in the direction of the column to present successive lines to the eye. Illustrations may be placed at the required position in the text and the reading apparatus is constructed to move a picture rapidly into and out of the viewing position and hold it stationary for viewing.