Large public libraries allocate a substantial portion of their budgets to pay for subscriptions to various databases, but even small libraries can provide some access through cooperative agreements with regional or state systems. http://librariesandliteracy.wordpress.com
I have noticed more and more libraries trying to partner together within their system. Team work is what we are going to need to get through these trying times. If we all work together, I believe we can accomplish all of our goals.
Matt Kosman
Congratulations to the libraries all over the United States this week, it’s National Library Week. It was first sponsored in 1958, over 51 years to date. On a personal note I would just like to say “thank you” to all the staff members, volunteers, librarians, and directors that I have been working with. I couldn’t ask for a better crowd of people to be associated with. Thanks for all the hard work you do. Have a great week.
Matt Kosman
Historical societies allow members to take advantage of their shared knowledge through education, research capabilities, and guidance. The ability to use your knowledge and resources to guide others is a wonderful thing. Using and making online resources available for your patrons and members is an excellent way to share information.
** Check out our page on Historical and Genealogical Societies to read up on a great opportunity we offer to these societies.
Its great to see more and more institutions and newspapers choosing to make their archives available online. Here is an interesting post from abovethefold.newspaperarchive.com blog..
I am pleased to see so much activity around the world in regards to the preservation and digital access to historical news content. The archives of the Teesdale Mercury will be very interesting to study. I would love to see more UK titles represented in our own digital archive. Maybe they would be open to a partnership?
Recently I began a search for a cousin of mine, we were close growing up but I haven’t seen or heard from him in about 20 years a long time. I used a lot of online resources during my search, I mean who has time to call every living relative and press them for info? I was shocked at the amount of useful information I found using these online resources. I found newspaper articles about him in high school and ultimately I found an article about him when he was discharged from the Navy (very useful in locating him now). Now if I can just get him to accept my friend request on facebook…
A few weeks ago we sent out a press release describing our initiative to add more international content to our database. Well, I must say the response has been overwelmingly positive. Not only have we agreed to digtize the international collection of historic newspapers from the University of Virginia, but now we have added the complete collection of the Winnepeg Free Press as well.
Having institutions work together to provide a source for exploring the world’s history online is an initiative that is very important to not only Heritage Microfilm and NewspaperArchive.com but to all researchers. Now we can look at the actual newspaper pages from hundreds of years ago and read first hand accounts of the historical events that took place all over the world.
“Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways;” This is the beginning of the Congressional resolution designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month“.
Jane Addams, great women in history
Today I would like to talk about the woman in history that I feel made one of the biggest impacts on our society, Jane Addams. She was one of the first generation of female college graduates. In a time when our Nation wasn’t prepared for an educated women, she found her own way to make a difference and lead.
Jane Addams created “Hull House“, a community center which is still in operation today, to improve conditions for poor immigrants. The program had English-language classes, child care, health education, and recreational opportunities. She won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her lifetime dedication to the cause of international peace.
I learned about Jane Addams’ accomplishments when I was a student. I have read about her accomplishments in books and online. Now through NewspaperArchive.com I have the opportunity to read the first hand account of her life’s work when it was in the newspaper back in 1932. Its amazing to have the ability to see this print and get the insight of what it was like in the 1930’s to have a women like this making a difference.
I saw this quote today. I love it - its true! Not only are librarians powerful when it comes to finding information and but they help make it available to patrons by their recommendation or acquisition.
“Librarians can catalog anything from an onion to a dog’s ear. They could catalog you. Librarians wield unfathomable power. With a flip of the wrist they can hide your dissertation behind piles of old Field and Stream magazines. They can find data for your term paper that you never knew existed…Librarians rule.” –Erica Olsen
I found this small bit of information today: “The rapid development of electronic imaging and storage technologies holds great promise for enhancing access to all types of research materials, including newspapers. As implied above, for example, the highly labor-intensive task of newspaper indexing can be accomplished with remarkable efficiency and savings by conversion of text into electronic form.” (http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/newspap.html)
I see that more and more Libraries and intuitions around the world want more electronic data bases. NewspaperArchive.com gives every instution that opportunity. Things are changing every day I hope we can all keep up.
Heritage Microfilm and Newspaper Archive have worked very closely with the State of Wisconsin for the past four years, digitizing almost their entire historical microfilm archive. Check it out at http://www.badgerlink.net/ We started with the Daily Argus, gradually expanding our services until we had built Wisconsin a custom newspaper archive website and digitized a total of 5 million images and a total of 150 titles added. Now the site receives hundreds of visits each day, and is a central tool for Wisconsin research and history.
I look forward to continuing our long-lasting relationship with the State OF Wisconsin as we expand our digital offerings and preserve more and more of their history. It has been a great privilege; these are the sort of partnerships which make a real difference for the future of access and preservation.
Matt Kosman
