NEWSPAPER SECTION OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY, KOLKATA: PHYSICAL PRESERVATION AND ACCESS TO NEWS Gopa Ghosh National Library, Kolkata Nivedita Bhattacharya Vidyasagar University Avijit Chakrabarti Barasat College, West Bengal Prof. (Dr.) Biplab Chakrabarti University of Calcutta

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Modern newspaper is an European invention. Modern newspaper is an European invention. A newspaper is a weekly or daily publication containing news, information or advertising. A newspaper is a weekly or daily publication containing news, information or advertising. Reporters collect the news items from the reality and write the articles for the newspapers. Reporters collect the news items from the reality and write the articles for the newspapers. The National Library of India holds copies of all the newspapers published in India and also purchases copies of foreign newspapers on selection basis. The National Library of India holds copies of all the newspapers published in India and also purchases copies of foreign newspapers on selection basis.

GLIMPSES OF NEWSPAPER COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF INDIA The Library has a rich collection of newspapers starting from late 18 th century to the current date including Hickys Gazette, the first newspaper in India. The Library has a rich collection of newspapers starting from late 18 th century to the current date including Hickys Gazette, the first newspaper in India. There are 66 important English titles of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. There are 66 important English titles of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. 53 old titles are in other languages like Bengali, Hindi, Urdu. 53 old titles are in other languages like Bengali, Hindi, Urdu. Many old important titles are present in microfilm form also. Approximately 5000 rolls are present there. Many old important titles are present in microfilm form also. Approximately 5000 rolls are present there.

GLIMPSES OF NEWSPAPER COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF INDIA The total number of current English titles of Indian newspapers received by the Library through D. B. Act is 98. The total number of current English titles of Indian newspapers received by the Library through D. B. Act is 98. Newspapers in regional languages like Tamil, Telegu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Oriya, Kannada, Assamese are also present in the collection. Newspapers in regional languages like Tamil, Telegu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Oriya, Kannada, Assamese are also present in the collection. Some titles published in other languages like Urdu, Hindi. Some titles published in other languages like Urdu, Hindi. Total 43 titles of newspapers published in different languages other than English are received here. Total 43 titles of newspapers published in different languages other than English are received here. Some selected foreign newspapers are also purchased every year. Some selected foreign newspapers are also purchased every year.

IMPORTANCE OF THE COLLECTION The news becomes history. To trace the history, people look for the newspaper archives. The news becomes history. To trace the history, people look for the newspaper archives. The old stock of newspaper helps us to know many facts about Indian culture, tradition and happenings The old stock of newspaper helps us to know many facts about Indian culture, tradition and happenings They throw light on the British rule in India and the period of freedom movement in India. They throw light on the British rule in India and the period of freedom movement in India. The newspaper can visualise all the past events The newspaper can visualise all the past events The current newspaper collection is also very much useful to the people of all kinds of profession. The current newspaper collection is also very much useful to the people of all kinds of profession.

ORGANISATIONAL SET UP OF NEWSPAPER COLLECTION The English Serials Division at the Bhasha Bhavan The English Serials Division at the Bhasha Bhavan The Newspaper Section at the Annexe Building The Newspaper Section at the Annexe Building The Language Divisions at the Bhasha Bhavan The Language Divisions at the Bhasha Bhavan The Esplanade Reading Room The Esplanade Reading Room The Rare Book division at the Annexe Building. The Rare Book division at the Annexe Building.

ACQUISITION OF NEWSPAPER According to the Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Amended Act, 1956, National Library is entitled to get newspapers published in India also free of cost. According to the Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Amended Act, 1956, National Library is entitled to get newspapers published in India also free of cost. Before 1956 the newspaper collection was based on the collection of the Imperial library. Before 1956 the newspaper collection was based on the collection of the Imperial library. Selected Foreign titles are purchased Selected Foreign titles are purchased English titles are received by the English Serials Division. English titles are received by the English Serials Division. Titles of other languages are received by the respective language divisions. Titles of other languages are received by the respective language divisions.

ORGANISATION OF NEWSPAPER COLLECTION Recording of loose issues Recording of loose issues Cataloguing of both old bound volumes and current issues. Cataloguing of both old bound volumes and current issues. Cataloguing of microfilm rolls. Cataloguing of microfilm rolls. Bound volumes are shelved at the stack according to call number. Bound volumes are shelved at the stack according to call number. Loose issues are shelved at the stack according to titles. Loose issues are shelved at the stack according to titles.

CONSERVATION OF NEWSPAPER Binding of old issues. Binding of old issues. Microfilming of old bound volumes. Microfilming of old bound volumes.

CONSERVATION OF NEWSPAPER- Preventive Measures Dusting of newspapers Dusting of newspapers Spraying with PIP (petroleum based chemicals like pyrethrum). Spraying with PIP (petroleum based chemicals like pyrethrum). Maintaining Ideal storage condition of 18°C to 20°C temperature and 50% to 55% relative humidity through air-conditioning. Maintaining Ideal storage condition of 18°C to 20°C temperature and 50% to 55% relative humidity through air-conditioning. Loose issues of newspapers are kept within polythene bags for protection against sunlight and fluorescent light. Loose issues of newspapers are kept within polythene bags for protection against sunlight and fluorescent light. Microfilm rolls are stored in boxes, which are kept in cabinets. Microfilm rolls are stored in boxes, which are kept in cabinets. Fire prevention system is present Fire prevention system is present

ACCESS TO THE COLLECTION Catalogue is the mode of access to the collection. Catalogue is the mode of access to the collection. The Library provides facilities for xeroxing and microfilming. The Library provides facilities for xeroxing and microfilming. The users also can get digitised copy using their own digital camera after getting necessary permission. The users also can get digitised copy using their own digital camera after getting necessary permission.

USERS OF NEWSPAPER ARCHIEVES Researchers, politicians, students, journalists and historians mainly use the collection Researchers, politicians, students, journalists and historians mainly use the collection Average number of users at the Esplanade Reading Room is 267 per month. Average number of users at the Esplanade Reading Room is 267 per month. Average number of users for current issues of newspapers is 174 per month Average number of users for current issues of newspapers is 174 per month In the Rare Book Division this is 105 in average per month. In the Rare Book Division this is 105 in average per month.

AVAILABILITY of INFRASTRUCTURE Manpower availability to organise the newspaper collection Manpower availability to organise the newspaper collection Esplanade Reading Room Esplanade Reading Room -1 technical and 2 non-technical persons manage the collection of old bound volumes of newspaper -1 technical and 2 non-technical persons manage the collection of old bound volumes of newspaper Newspaper Section Newspaper Section -1 technical and 2 non-technical persons for organisation of the stack of loose issues of newspapers -1 technical and 2 non-technical persons for organisation of the stack of loose issues of newspapers English Serials Division English Serials Division - 2 technical persons for procurement and processing the current titles of newspapers - 2 technical persons for procurement and processing the current titles of newspapers Reprography Division Reprography Division - 1 person is engaged in microfilming work - 1 person is engaged in microfilming work Rare Book Division Rare Book Division -2 technical and 1 non-technical persons manage the microfilmed newspaper along with the whole collection of the Division. -2 technical and 1 non-technical persons manage the microfilmed newspaper along with the whole collection of the Division.

AVAILABILITY of INFRASTRUCTURE Materials availability to organize the newspaper collection Materials availability to organize the newspaper collection Steel shelves Steel shelves Kardex Kardex Catalogue cards Catalogue cards Microfilm copies of newspapers Microfilm copies of newspapers 3 Microfilm cameras (Imtec, fuji, zeiss) 3 Microfilm cameras (Imtec, fuji, zeiss) 5 Microfilm readers 5 Microfilm readers 1 xerox machine 1 xerox machine 1 microfilm copier 1 microfilm copier Microfilm rolls Microfilm rolls Local Area Network Local Area Network

CHALLENGES Incompleteness in the collection Incompleteness in the collection Scattering of collection Scattering of collection Procurement of foreign newspapers Procurement of foreign newspapers Digitization of newspaper collection Digitization of newspaper collection Shortage of Manpower Shortage of Manpower Documentation Work Documentation Work Microfilming of regional language newspapers Microfilming of regional language newspapers

FUTURE PLANS Microfilming of all the newspapers at random through private contractor Microfilming of all the newspapers at random through private contractor Reproduction of digital copies from the microfilms Reproduction of digital copies from the microfilms Purchasing of digital copies from newspaper agencies Purchasing of digital copies from newspaper agencies

CONCLUSION Newspaper is basically a self-destructing thing, which is printed with poor quality ink and paper. Newspaper is basically a self-destructing thing, which is printed with poor quality ink and paper. But it is an indispensible source of all kinds of information on day to day life within a country and though out the world. But it is an indispensible source of all kinds of information on day to day life within a country and though out the world. The National Library should build up a digital infrastructure to enable the whole newspaper collection digitised and to make it accessible to the users more conveniently. The National Library should build up a digital infrastructure to enable the whole newspaper collection digitised and to make it accessible to the users more conveniently.

THANK YOU