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G2S Project Code: 2021-WA-89470
State: Washington
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
Washington State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Shawn Schollmeyer
Director Phone: 360-570-5568
Director Email: shawn.schollmeyer@sos.wa.gov
General Information
Title: Washington Digital Newspapers
State Project Code: 9550-2221-21
Start Date: 10/01/2021
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: Washington Digital Newspapers (WDN) has been a popular program for genealogists and researchers who wish to access Washington newspapers from anywhere at any time. Washington State Library has the largest collection of Washington newspapers on microfilm, including some of the earliest pioneer papers in the state. WDN’s goal is to grow this online collection for preservation as per state statute (RCW 27.04.045 (8)) and educate communities on how best to preserve and access their newspaper heritage through digitization.
State Goal: Goal 2. Preserve and share Washington’s stories using methods and tools that balance accessibility
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$55,688.85
$0.00
$0.00
$55,688.85
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
History
Collection Development & Management
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Washington Digital Newspapers Digitization Program
Narrative:

This project supports community library and museum newspaper digitization projects with digital preservation consulting, scanning, metadata and hosting for free public access on the Washington Digital Newspapers website, washingtondigitalnewspapers.org.

Newspapers digitized for this program have the approval of the publisher or are considered to be in the public domain and will be hosted free for public access and non-commercial use. Current projects include four newspapers spanning from 1907 to 2007. 

New this year is an agreement with newspapers.com to provide for newspaper digitization from microfilm for free in exchange for a 3-year embargo on public access. 



Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 126,510
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 67,861
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 0
Other: 3
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:

Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The press releases regarding the National Digital Newspaper Program grant award has brought greater visibility to both programs and there have been several inquiries about new community projects. Support from the newspaper publishers has been an important piece of making community projects happen. Especially so that the program can host newspapers beyond the 1926 public domain limitation and make the history of the community freely available to the public
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Smaller communities and their cultural institutions often do not have infrastructure or funding to host online newspaper collections. Other library and archive organizations in our state cannot currently support newspaper digitization efforts on this scale on their own and have been supportive and encouraging of our efforts.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Newspapers, Digitization, Digital Collections