McMaster Libraries to help build world’s largest newspaper archive

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/newspaper_archive.jpg” caption=”McMaster University Libraries are the first Canadian institution to participate in the creation of the world’s largest, fully searchable digital archive of international newspapers, called The World Newspaper Archive. Photo courtesy of Catherine Baird.”]McMaster University Libraries are the first Canadian institution to agree to participate in the creation of the world's largest, fully searchable digital archive of international newspapers, called The World Newspaper Archive.

“We're thrilled to participate in this important initiative and ensure that these resources will be preserved and easily accessible to future generations,” explains University librarian Jeff Trzeciak. “Libraries have always been stewards of our local institutional resources. In the digital environment, it is important for us to work collaboratively to expand access to our unique collections.”

McMaster's collaboration with other North American research libraries will expand the library's access to a rich array of primary source materials, providing electronic access to an internationally significant collection of historical resources.

The first newspapers to be added to the collection will include 35 Latin American newspapers, a total of one million pages of newspaper text published between 1805 and 1922 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and other countries. The focus of the project will then turn to adding newspapers published in Africa, South Asia and other regions around the world.

The World Newspaper Archive project is a collaborative effort between Readex, well known for its focus on historical materials and government documents, and the Center for Research Libraries, an international partnership of more than 240 universities, colleges and independent research libraries of which McMaster is a member.