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NEWSPLAN – The Way ahead Ed King, Head of Newspaper Collections, British Library NEWSPLAN LIEM Regional Council 2 October 2008. Summary of NEWSPLAN Programme . UK wide Two guiding principles: Access to newspapers Preservation of newspapers Access:
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NEWSPLAN – The Way ahead • Ed King, Head of Newspaper Collections, British Library • NEWSPLAN LIEM Regional Council 2 October 2008
Summary of NEWSPLAN Programme • UK wide • Two guiding principles: • Access to newspapers • Preservation of newspapers • Access: • Surveys of each region’s holdings: Reports, 1986-1996 • Databases developed and maintained by each region of its newspaper holdings • Preservation: • Local authority library book budgets set aside for microfilming, normally 1% • BL enlarged its microfilming programme 1970-present
NEWSPLAN2000 • 1990s: More funds needed to quicken the pace of filming • Bid to Heritage Lottery Fund prepared • Bid successful in early 1999 • £5 million allocated by HLF • Matched funding needed from Libraries and newspaper publishers • Project began fully in 2001 • Project ended 2005 • HLF not (at this time) funding continuation
NEWSPLAN2000 • Achievements: • 1,325 newspapers preserved by microfilming • 12.9 million pages preserved • 30, 476 reels of microfilm • Distribution to regions of: • Positive Film • 156 reader printers • 309 microfilm readers • Details available on web at : http://news.vispweb3.userarea.co.uk/
NEWSPLAN – The Way Ahead • Review of role and purpose of regional committees. • A project to plan and resource the updating the NEWSPLAN databases; a common standard for the separate regional databases; feasibility of creating a national database • Listing of titles uniquely held by regions to be compiled • Location and preservation status • Details of hard copy holdings • Details of issues microfilmed • Standard of microfilm
NEWSPLAN – The Way Ahead • Digitisation • Strong interest in regions • More information required on standards & best practice • Need for regions to “buy in” to the need & take lead on project proposals • BL is to go further with digitisation of 19th century newspapers in next few years • Plan a one day conference on preservation and digitisation of newspapers in 2009
NEWSPLAN – The Way Ahead • 3425 titles listed as In Peril in 1999 • 1325 titles filmed by NEWSPLAN2000 • Likely that possible < 2000 titles still in peril • Libraries/ regions to decide what titles are unique • Make project proposals to • Update regional databases • Digitise unique newspapers • Recognition that digital is still in early phase for image creation and processing, making available texts online, and preservation of data
BL recent digitisation developments • JISC funded projects: • British Newspapers 1800-1900: 48 titles, 2 m. pages • British Newspapers:1620-1900: 31 titles, 1 m. pages 2. Burney Collection of 18th century newspapers, 1 m. pages 3. BL to carry on with further digitisation of 19th century newspapers as part of its Newspaper Strategy (no definite numbers yet)
Benefits of a new NEWSPLAN Project • Increased use of local libraries • Keeping up to date with new technology • Link between microfilm and digitisaiton • Raise awareness locally of newspapers at risk • Links with newspaper publishers • Links between older runs and current newspapers
Regional Benefits of a new NEWSPLAN Project • Knowledge of titles at risk • How to ensure users get what they need • Gain further practical experience of doing a digital project • Images only to be presented; or, • Images plus full text searchability • Preservation of data files • Links to other digital projects in the local area
NEWSPLAN – The Way Ahead • Thanks for your attention • Questions?