NEWSPLAN 2000

• To preserve 1,700 rare or fragile local newspaper titles
• To create archival microfilm
• To provide one copy of each film to a local library
• To distribute reader printers for users in libraries
• To store the master negative microfilm
• To catalogue each newspaper title

• 1,700 local newspaper titles
• 33,000 volumes of newspapers
• 65 million pages of newsprint

• The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing £5M
• The regional newspaper industry is providing £1.3M
• Libraries are providing £1.5M as an 'in-kind' contribution.

NEWSPLAN SOUTHWEST

Over 500 years of Devon newspapers have recently become available for everyone in Devon to view on microfilm. They provide a unique record of communities across Devon in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In fact newspapers are widely recognised as one of the most important sources for the study of local history, culture and genealogy. In Devon there is a tradition of local newspaper publication stretching back to 1704 but over time many of these titles have disappeared or become extremely fragile - indeed most of the titles listed overleaf could not previously be viewed within the county.

This greatly improved access has been possible through the NEWSPLAN 2000 Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the UK Newspaper Industry, which is helping to preserve unique and fragile collections of local newspapers held in libraries throughout the United Kingdom. In the South West Newsplan is run through a regional committee with representatives from libraries across the region. Archival microfilm remains the internationally accepted preservation medium with a life of at least 500 years.

From time to time Newsplan will be undertaking surveys of newspaper use in libraries. Please help us to continue our work by participating in these surveys.