Apparatus for remotely viewing and scanning microfilm at a first location, while controlling the viewing and scanning from a remote location, including a viewing and scanning device for generating a video feed and subsequently scanned images of the microfilm, a host computer at the first location in communication with the viewing and scanning device to receive the video feed and the scanned images, a user's computer at a remote location in communication with the host computer to receive the video feed and the scanned images from the host computer, and a virtual film movement control at the user's computer to control the movement of the microfilm at the first location. A virtual camera control at the remote location controls the camera of the viewing and scanning device.