The document summarizes the Australian Newspapers Digitization Program run by the National Library of Australia. The program aims to digitize Australian newspapers published between 1803 and 1954 and make them freely available online. Over 1.8 million pages have been scanned so far from major titles in each state and territory. The full collection will include over 4 million pages and 40 million articles by 2011. Teachers and students can use the searchable digital archives to research Australian and world history as a free primary source.

1. Australian Newspapers online:
A resource for educators
Teachers Resource Day
Canberra, Australia
26 March 2009
Rose Holley
Manager Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program
National Library of Australia
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2. Objectives of the program
Increase access to Australian newspapers
Build a national service that will provide free online
access from the first Australian newspaper published
in 1803 through to the end of 1954
Key Features of the service
Online access
Freely available
Full text searchable
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3. National Content
Northern
Territory
Initial focus on Times
major titles from
each state and
territory
Courier Mail
Anticipate that
‘regional’ titles may
be contributed later West Australian Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Gazette
Advertiser
Canberra Times
Coverage: published
between 1803 – 1954 Argus
(out of copyright)
Mercury
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4. Overview
Project started 2 years ago
Digitise from microfilm (outsourced)
1.8 million pages scanned so far
Australian Newspapers beta released July
2008
360,000 pages (3.5 million articles) in beta
Will make 4 million pages (40 million
articles) available to public by 2011.
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5. Oldest paper 1803 – to
latest 1954
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6. $1 Million Grant from the Vincent Fairfax Family
Foundation to digitise The Sydney Morning Herald to 1954
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7. Website: http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp 7

8. Home page http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au 8

9. How to use
Search by keyword = results list, pick articles
Browse by title
Browse by date = view by page,
Browse by state then select article
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10. Search results – refine on left 10

11. Page view 11

12. Article View with enhancement features on left 12

13. Benefits for educators
New online resource
Extensive coverage of Australian history 1803 ‐
1954
Coverage of wider world history (e.g. WW2)
Full text searchable
Free
Easy to use
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14. Benefits for students
Can add value to resource by enhancing articles
(tagging, comments, correcting text)
Consolidating English skills and grammar by
transcribing
Improving English (ESL) by transcribing and reading
Helps keyboarding skills
Helps information seeking skills
Everyone can find something of interest
Primary research resource
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15. Examples
1. Browse – oldest paper = Sydney Gazette, 1803
2. Browse – war paper = Argus, August 8th (Hiroshima)
3. Search ‐ Titanic sinking (refine by decade 1912)
4. Search – Phar Lap (refine by News and Illustrated to
find a picture)
5. Search – Olympics 1936
6. Search – “flying saucers” as a phrase
7. Search for family history – “George Blaxland” (can
refine by ‘family notices’) or use your own name.
8. Tag an article you find
9. Add a comment about the content of an article
10. Correct some text in an article
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16. Presentation here
Website: http://www.nla.gov.au/ndp 16