Irish history preserved with technology

Some people like to save old newspapers when notable events occur, like the death of a national figure or the end or a war. Institutions like libraries or national archives save the majority of volumes so they can be enjoyed and referenced by history buffs. However, if the buildings that house old papers experience a disaster, the volumes could be lost forever.

Today, stories are usually published on paper and on the internet, but what of older accounts? Many libraries and newspaper corporations are looking into conversion services to digitize older records. By capturing images of each page of older papers, the data can be saved.

Archivists at the Limerick Leader recently completed a digitization project, according to the Irish newspaper. Volumes dating between 1905 and 2004 are available to view online now, where before, interested parties had to consult librarians to find the correct microfiche collection.

The initiative represents a joint venture between the Leader and the Irish Newspaper Archives, which has been involved in the digitization of around 20 papers thus far. Nearly all stories, from obituaries and court cases to larger national and international events, are searchable online, often for a small fee.

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