NEWSPLAN: A Digital Universe for Newspapers:

The Fifth National NEWSPLAN Conference, 30th November 2009

The British Library Conference Centre

Euston Road, London NW1.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference Background and Aims

The pace of change for libraries, and for museums and archives continues. The initiatives of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are all reshaping the activities of libraries, museums and archives. Increasing the provision of access to collections has become the focal point for collaborative projects.

The NEWSPLAN 2000 Project was awarded £5 million for the microfilming of UK local newspapers that are fragile and unique. 1,325 titles were microfilmed, generating 30,000 reels, which were distributed to libraries all over the UK for public use. However, some 3,460 newspapers were stated to be in peril in 2000, so a substantial number remain to be copied to have their information preserved.

NEWSPLAN has been regarded as the model of UK-wide co-operation for the development of matters relating to the provision of access to and preservation of newspapers. The Conference is intended to recruit a new generation of policy makers, of professionals to endorse the aims of NEWSPLAN. NEWSPLAN aims to build upon its achievements, and to look forward to securing more funds to secure more online access to their wealth of information. As the development of digital technology progresses, newspaper texts, both current and historic, will be delivered to ever wider audiences, to great public benefit.

The Conference aims:

to secure endorsement of the aims of NEWSPLAN from those who have the management of newspaper collections in the UK
to show what newspaper collections can offer to the wider public, to enhance education, learning and research
to re-emphasise the role of standards in ensuring successful microfilming, digitising and storage for preservation
to discuss the future role of microfilm for the preservation of newspapers
to provide a knowledge of recent developments in digital technology in the

newspaper and library sectors

to increase awareness of how co-operative projects may exploit digital technology to enhance access to newspapers
to share knowledge of preservation survey and assessment methods, for the articulation of the preservation needs

The Conference organisers are looking for papers to be presented on the following topics:

Example of rare/ unique newspapers in peril at present for lack of resources to copy them
Hands-on preservation/ conservation of older newspapers
Creating a digital newspaper resource for regional newspaper(s)
Newspaper digitisation planning in Scotland and in Wales and in Ireland
Press cuttings collections
Digital Preservation – opportunities and costs
The Newspaper Publisher perspective
Preparation for digitization and aftercare of originals
Usage of existing newspaper databases

Proposals for presentations are invited. Please send an abstract of your presentation and a CV by the 31 March 2009 to :

Ed King

The British Library

96 Euston Road

London WC1 2DG

Email: ed.king@bl.uk

Acceptances will be issued by the end of April 2009. Full papers are due by the 30 September 2009.

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