Old news proving popular
Newspapers is the topic at Newark Library this month as part of the government’s Year Of Reading.
Millions of people choose broadsheet or tabloid options to catch up on the latest news but for others newspapers are a valuable insight into the past.
At Newark Library people regularly spend hours looking back through past editions of the Advertiser, for research, for history, or just out of curiosity.
The local studies librarian, Mr Tim Warner, said they stored copies of the Advertiser dating back to 1854, and these provided a valuable source of research.
He said the early copies were full-size broadsheet and contained fewer pages than the current editions.
“Back then, there was small print, not many photographs, and all the information was crammed in. It didn’t take a lot of room,” Mr Warner said.
Due to space constraints and ease of access, the back copies are stored on microfilm.
Although not compulsory people are advised to book a slot on one of the machines to view the film. The service is free and staff can help first-time users.
A year’s worth of the earlier editions fits on to one roll, but because of the increase in pages it now takes 11 rolls to record a year of news.
There are no current plans to computerise the system.
As well as microfilm, there are large bound books, containing editions of the Advertiser, and these have been well used over the years.
Mr Warner said the Advertiser provided an essential resource for people in the area and its popularity as a resource was ever growing.
He said: “It is one of the biggest resources we have here for local history because the Advertiser goes back so far and covers such a range of topics.”
He said there was a core of five of six people who regularly used the microfilm.
Mr Warner said many used the papers to research their family history.
“People who live, perhaps, in Australia or America find that their ancestors come from England and work their way back across the seas and end up here,” he said.
The newspapers are a research tool for people wanting to find out about births, marriages, deaths and anniversaries.
Some people also research the general history of Newark and surrounding areas.
Regulars at the library include Mr Brian Smith (66) of Rutland Avenue, Newark, who started looking at the old Advertisers about ten years ago after being inspired by the newspaper’s 100 Years Ago column.
Since he retired last year, after 18 years at Mastercare, he uses the service for four to five hours a week, with two sessions booked each week.
His research even led to the publication of a book, called Homefront Newark, about life in the town during the second world war. It was compiled with the help of Mr Warner.
Mr Smith said information of interest he had come across included the use of a concrete technique new to Nottinghamshire during the building of one of the maltkilns.
He said: “Somebody was unfortunately killed in the construction and through that, I was able to trace when the maltkiln was built. It wasn’t in the main section of the newspaper because maltkilns did not have a big opening ceremony.”
Mr Smith’s research is used to reference and index the Advertisers to help other users find the information they need.
“It feels good to help people through my research. It feels like I have achieved something worthwhile,” Mr Smith said.
Mrs Sue Clayton, of Flintham, is using the Advertisers for research for her PhD studies.
She is researching village shops between 1880 and 1954 and previously used the newspapers when undertaking a masters degree in local and regional history.
Mrs Clayton said, in the past, she had researched wartime rationing and the black market.
Sometimes her work helped with talks and displays at Flintham Museum, where she is a volunteer and curator.
The Year Of Reading initiative aims to introduce people to different types of reading, and highlights the resources available at libraries.
Mr Warner said: “Perhaps people do not realise that we have the old newspapers so it gives the opportunity to highlight them.
“We are hoping that we will encourage people to read and, with different themes each month, they know about the whole range.”
Next month’s topic is mind and body.
