1. Nova Scotia Historical Newspapers

2. History of the Newspaper Project
In the late 1980s, an Ad Hoc Committee for the Preservation of/Access to Nova Scotian Newspapers was formed
Goal of establishing a province-wide collection, preservation, and access approach for newspapers (current and historical)

3. March 2009 Consultation
20 years later, a consultation was held at the Nova Scotia Archives
Brought together libraries, archives, and historical societies
Explored the current status of collecting, preserving, providing access to the province’s newspapers

4. Findings of Consultation
Strong interest in collaborative digitization strategies
Digitization facilities existed, but no funding available
Newspapers lie outside of institutions’ mandates

5. Start of the Newspaper Project
Libraries Nova Scotia (a consortium of academic, college, special, and public libraries) takes the lead
Funding provided by Nova Scotia Community Access Program (CAP)
Steering committee included: Libraries Nova Scotia, NS Provincial Library, Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management, Beaton Institute, CBU, Legislative Library and Western Counties Regional Library

6. Funding
Received $24,000 grant from Nova Scotia Community Access Program
Two “scanners” employed: one at the Nova Scotia Archives, and one at the Mi’kmaq College Institute, CBU
Over the course of seven months, 19,000 pages of historic newspapers were scanned
NSARM scanner: Hayley Blackmore, originally from Newfoundland, is a graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, with a major in photography. She is a professional photographer whose work has been featured in large-scale exhibitions.

7. Selection Process Early and unique newspapers
Representing different regions, both urban and rural
Including different cultural groups (Gaelic, Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian)
Preservation: Some papers had to be digitized or their content would be lost
Originals (not microfilm)

8. Where did the newspapers come from?
Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management
The Beaton Institute, Cape Breton University
Cape Breton Regional Library
Private donors

9. Digitization Process Scanning done from originals
“Digital repair” and paper conservation for papers in poor condition
Optical Character Recognition used for Cape Breton papers

10. Digitized Newspapers Billa Na Queg (A New Day), 1964
Micmac News, (Membertou),
The Thermometer (Sydney),
The Nova Scotia Gleaner (Sydney), 1929
The Cape Breton News (Sydney),
The Daily Advocate (Sydney), 1878
The Cape Breton Advocate, (Sydney), 1899
The Daily Times (Sydney), 1878
The Sydney Booster (Sydney), 1935
Glace Bay Enterprise (Glace Bay), 1896
Semi-Weekly Express (Sydney), 1879
Nova Scotia Chronicle and Weekly Advertiser (Halifax, )
The Port-Roseway Gazetteer and the Shelburne Advertiser,
The Royal American Gazette (Shelburne), 1785
The Nova-Scotia Packet and General Advertiser (Shelburne), 1786
Pictou Bee ( )
The 4th Estate (Halifax, )
The Tiny Tattler (Central Grove, Digby County),

11. Communities Shelburne Halifax Central Grove Pictou Sydney Membertou
Glace Bay
Eskasoni

12. Websites
Nova Scotia Archives hosting “mainland” Nova Scotia newspapers
Memorial University hosting Cape Breton newspapers
Newspapers searchable by date
Cape Breton newspapers full-text searchable
Images viewed in high resolution with ability to zoom and pan

13. Nova Scotia Archives Website

14. Memorial University Website

15. Outcomes
Enabled broad public access to several outstanding examples of Canadian newspapers
Fostered a broad partnership of organizations with expertise, infrastructure and interest in historical newspapers
With a small amount of funding, produced a considerable product in a very short time frame

16. Next steps Potential continuation of the project
Only a fraction of historical Nova Scotian papers have been digitized

17. Thank-you!