Local, older newspapers are often one of the most heavily used resources in libraries and historical societies, and librarians receive many requests from genealogists and researchers looking for help finding information on family and friends. In an effort to meet this need many libraries and historical societies have undertaken newspaper digitization projects. In a discussion following a presentation on the New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project to NJLA History and Preservation members given by Caryn Radick (Rutgers University Libraries) and Deborah Mercer (New Jersey State Library) several librarians expressed a desire for an easy way to find and keep track of all of the historic New Jersey newspapers that have been digitized by libraries and private vendors over the years.
To meet that need Caitlyn Cook and Heather Husted of the New Jersey State Library have compiled a list of historical New Jersey digitized newspapers, that are available either for free, or via subscription only commercial databases.
The newspapers are arranged by county and there’s also a “Titles Coming Soon” page where they will list digitization projects that are in process so that libraries, historical societies and vendors can avoid unintentional duplication of effort. They also offer a copy of the more detailed spreadsheet that the guide is based upon and a map of newspaper locations for those not well versed in New Jersey geography. Future plans for the guide include adding a tab for university and college newspapers that are available.
They are hoping members of the greater library and history community will reach out to share other digitization projects that they may have missed, so if you know of a digitized newspaper that’s not on this list, or if you’re about to embark upon a newspaper digitization project and would like it to be listed in the “Titles Coming Soon” page please email Caitlyn Cook at ccook@njstatelib.org
(contributed by Deborah Mercer, New Jersey State Library)
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