A newspaper library is a library that specializes in newspapers and other periodicals. It can work in your own building, in a specific room or in a specific sector within a traditional library.
Newspaper libraries can classify their contents in different ways (by subject, country of origin or date). Many print media have their own newspaper libraries, which function as archives where they store each of their publications. There are times when these newspaper libraries are open to the general public, while in other cases, only company employees or researchers are authorized to enter.
The Internet has modified the operation of newspaper archives. On the one hand, many newspaper libraries have digitized their funds so that they can be consulted remotely through the Web. On the other hand, there are newspaper libraries that, although they did not digitize their files, have developed some type of database so that the interested party can consult the catalog before going to the building.
A researcher, for example, enters a newspaper archive site and searches for all publications that contain the expression "American History of the 16th Century . " After analyzing the results, you find five records of interest to you. The researcher can take note of the location or code of these publications to facilitate access to the material once he visits the newspaper library.
Among the virtual newspaper libraries, the one developed by the Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library stands out. It presents the digital editions of numerous scientific and cultural journals in various subject areas, which can be accessed from search forms or title lists organized according to different criteria.
Types of newspaper archives
It is important to point out that within the newspaper libraries we can find different classifications, for which each included text must meet a series of characteristics.
* Newspapers: In this classification are those periodical publications that present breaking news and have a particular format, in which a specific distribution of the news can be highlighted and a different typeface from the rest of the daily publications.
In turn, they can be classified according to their content or their area of implementation.
—For their area of implementation, they can be local, regional, provincial, national or international. (They always aim to inform, but according to the type of public that is going to read it, they will use a concise vocabulary or that specific to a region).
* Magazines: Although their content could resemble newspapers and even some books, they are distinguished by their external appearance. Like books, they have a summary similar to the index; and as for its similarity to newspapers, the regularity of its appearance can be mentioned.
They can also be classified by their content, general or specialized. And by the public to whom they are directed, such as techniques (aimed at an audience that handles a certain vocabulary and specific knowledge on a subject) or dissemination (developed for all audiences, with few demands).
* Bulletins, annals and reports: They usually go out annually and are prepared by institutions that wish to share with the general public or with those who are part of it, the activities they carry out there. In addition, they can provide them with knowledge of studies or research.
They are widely used in academies to share the activities of the organization with the students and provide them with data that can help them in their academic work.