The National Library wants to help save historic newspapers

A pilot programme in 2010/11 resulted in more than 50,000 new pages from six different newspaper titles throughout the country added to the Library’s Papers Past website.

"Due to the pilot’s success, we will be running the programme again in 2011/2012 and we are looking to digitise another 50,000 pages," commented Chris Szekely, Chief Librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library, which is part of the National Library.

"There is a demand from the public for historical newspapers to be preserved and made accessible online."

Papers Past currently contains more than two million pages of digitised New Zealand newspapers and periodicals from between 1839 and 1945, and is Library’s most-visited website.

Participants in the pilot programme included Hutt City Libraries, Palmerston North City Libraries, Rodney Libraries and Waihora Ellesmere Trust.

Rob McPherson of the Waihora Ellesmere Trust says his group has received a lot of positive feedback from the community since participating in the pilot.

"Our collection on Papers Past is being used for everything, from research into a PhD to background for an historical novel set in Ellesmere. There has also been appreciation expressed from a number of people researching their family histories," said Mr McPherson.

All information on project details and instructions on how to apply are available on the National Library website.

More about the collaboration project

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