Selection of newspapers for digitization and preservation as a result of present practice in the French National Library

Abstract

The paper will give a brief overview of selection criteria and the reasons for these options as practised right now at the BNF (Bibliotheque nationale de France) for newspapers to be digitized and/or preserved in hardcopy. BNF's newspaper digitization programme which has priority will be introduced. Main selection categories are: French historical newspapers, newspapers published in French abroad, rare files only preserved by the BNF, very brittle newspapers, specialised items such as newspapers from ancient French colonies. Coloured newsprint will normally be digitized in grey because of the high cost of digitization in colours. Funding in 2011 comes to 200000 Euros plus the digitization carried out in house, an insufficient amount compared with the millions of pages still to be digitized. At present the BNF is negotiating with providers having huge digitization possibilities. As to current newspapers BNF's Legal Deposit Office is negotiating with several newspaper industries but it is too early to know about the conclusion. A test is running actually with 75 newspapers with online editions. Hardcopies are preserved at present but the digital format will predominate and probably take over in a near future.