National Library of AustraliaNational Library of Australia

NPLAN - National Plan for Australian Newspapers

Preserve

The overall aim of the NPLAN project is to preserve all Australian newspapers and to ensure the public has adequate access to them. Many newspapers from the mid-1850s are printed on chemically unstable ground wood pulp paper, which deteriorates rapidly with age and use. As a means of ensuring the longevity of Australian newspapers and ongoing access to their information content, NPLAN partners aim to:

  • Retain as long as feasible one hardcopy of every newspaper in their jurisdiction;
  • Create/purchase an archival-standard master microfilm reproduction of every hardcopy newspaper in their jurisdiction for permanent preservation;
  • Create/purchase at least one microfilm reproduction of every newspaper in their jurisdiction for public use.

As a risk management strategy, microform masters are stored separately from duplicating masters and working copies whenever possible. The microform masters are placed in cold storage.

Digitisation

While microfilm has been the traditional medium for preserving newspapers, and is still relied upon for providing long-term access, NPLAN partners are also interested in providing access to digitised versions of historical newspapers. Digitisation of newspaper content offers users distinct advantages—such as ease of access from remote locations and searchable text. The National Library’s Newspaper Digitisation Project is currently exploring standards and technologies to develop a national infrastructure which will support unmediated access to the content of digitised historical newspapers. Australian libraries are currently considering under what conditions digital copies of newspapers would be conisdered acceptable preservation formats.

Why Microfilm?

In order to protect the original newspaper hardcopy for as long as possible, but still provide access to the information it contains, libraries and archives have turned to microfilm as a preservation copying option.
Australian libraries first became involved in microfilming with the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) in 1948. Due to its relatively low cost and high-speed production, as well as ease of storage, microfilm has proved to be a popular preservation option amongst Australian libraries and archives.
Information on preservation microfilming may be found at:

Just Because a Newspaper is Microfilmed Doesn't Mean It's Preserved!

It is important to note that if microfilm is to be a 'preservation copy' then it must be produced and housed according to archival standards.
Early microfilm may be on acetate film base which is unstable under all but the most stringent storage conditions. Acetate base film deteriorates releasing acetic acid known as the 'vinegar syndrome'. Microfilm must be replaced or copied urgently if vinegar syndrome is identified. Further information on acetate deterioration and management is available at the Australian Network for Information on Cellulose Acetate website.
Polyester base microfilm came into more popular use from the mid-1970s and must be used to produce an archival copy.

Just Because a Newspaper is on CD Doesn't Mean It's Preserved!

Digital technology offers access to a greater range of users. However, due to technical obsolescence of both hardware and software, digital copies cannot be considered 'preservation copies' unless the digital files are produced and stored to standard and migration is appropriately managed. Further information is available at Preserving Access to Digital Information (PADI). PADI is a subject gateway to digital preservation resources and includes articles, policies, events and newsletters of up-to-date digital preservation information from all around the world.

Other Resources:

Projects related to NPLAN:
United Kingdom
  • UK NEWSPLAN - contains information relating to the preservation of local newspapers throughout the United Kingdom and is a co-operative program between the Heritage Lottery Fund and the UK Newspaper Industry.
  • See also the British Library - provides background information, publications, reports and a bibliography relating to the UK NEWSPLAN program.
United States/North America
  • Global Newspaper Program: a program undertaken by the Centre for Research Libraries, this site has links to other useful sites, such as the International Coalition on Newspapers and the Foreign Newspapers Database.
  • International Coalition on Newspapers: a preservation project being undertaken by the Centre for Research Libraries and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities; this group deals with the management and preservation of newspaper collections.
  • United States Newspaper Program - funded by the National Endowment of the Arts with assistance by the Library of Congress, this site describes the United States newspaper preservation program and lists program participants.
  • See also the Library of Congress - describes the United States Newspaper Program and its aim to preserve newspapers published in the United States from the eighteenth century to the present.
Digital Newspaper Initiatives from Around the World
Australia
The Netherlands
New Zealand
United States
Further Newspaper Preservation Resources:
National Library of Australia Northern Territory Library State Library of Tasmania State Library of South Australia State Library of New South Wales State Library of Western Australia State Library of Victoria State Library of Queensland