Special project to preserve historical archives of local newspapers
It's being run by a researcher from Coventry University
A researcher from Coventry University is running a special project - to preserve the historical archives of local newspapers.
Dr Rachel Matthews will be bringing together experts, archivists and community groups to make sure these pieces of history are not lost forever.
This all comes as local newspapers continue in their transition from the more traditional print to modern digital formats - meaning these historical materials are in danger of being - quite literally - just confined to history.
Without a formal system to save them, or a recognition of their importance, most material is simply thrown away.
Dr Matthews will be dawing on her 15 years working in the local newspaper industry to develop a new approach to acquiring, cataloguing and making these valuable archives more accessible.
This project is being called a 'vital step' in safeguarding the precious history of the places we know and love.
She said: “By collaborating with local groups, we can ensure that the heritage captured in our local newspapers are protected for future generations to explore and appreciate."
The project will develop guidelines for those who step into salvage newspaper records by working with stakeholders to map existing newspaper collections in the Midlands, understand current preservation efforts and identify areas where additional support is needed to ensure their long-term sustainability.
The project's central aspect is what the team are doing to make a comprehensive toolkit, which will help people in how to preserve newspaper archives effectively.
Four workshops will bring together specialists in cataloguing, intellectual property rights and digital preservation, which will collectively shape the toolkit’s content.
Jack Butterworth, Head of Research, Grants and Academic Engagement at The National Archives, said: " The Resilience Grants programme is designed to help archive services create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the heritage sector.
"We are therefore very proud to support Coventry University in their efforts to develop a new network and toolkit for organisations looking to preserve local newspaper archives, particularly at a time when records of this nature are so vulnerable."
The toolkit will be published online and made accessible to archivists, community groups and the public.
A formal launch event will celebrate the project’s outcomes and establish a long-term network dedicated to preserving local newspaper heritage.
You can find out mote about the Preserving the Local Newspaper Archive here.