Community Newspaper Digitisation Project

Applications have now closed for the 2024-2025 financial year.

The Libraries Board of South Australia has been funding an annual Community Newspaper Digitisation Project as a three-year pilot since July 2022. The Board recognises that newspaper digitisation and delivery online through the National Library’s Trove platform is highly valued by the public, as demonstrated by annual use statistics in the millions.

The Libraries Board has committed up to $50,000 each year for three years for this annual grant program in which the Board will match, or co-fund, community funding to increase South Australian newspaper content on Trove.

This pilot project makes it possible for the State Library of South Australia to support a scheduled newspaper digitisation program. Commonwealth funding for newspaper digitisation ended in 2017.

Project outcomes

The first two years of the project have seen positive partnerships formed with regional and local history groups, National Trust branches, church groups and individuals. This has resulted in over 75,000 pages from the Port Lincoln Times, Standard Messenger, Hills Gazette, The Peoples Weekly, The Seasider, Australijos Leituvis and Southeast Kingston Leader being made available through Trove.

The 2024-2025 financial year is the final year of funding for the pilot project.

Eligibility

Community organisations, local history groups and interested persons are invited to apply for one of these grants.

Applicants should have a keen interest in seeing more South Australian newspaper content being available through Trove.

Assessment Process

A panel of digitisation and collection specialists from the State Library of South Australia will independently assess each application based on the assessment criteria. The panel will aim to contact each applicant to advise of the final outcomes.

Assessment criteria

As part of your application please address the following criteria:

• Name and contact information of organisation or individual applicant
• Title of the publication to be digitised and date ranges being requested
• Describe the significance of the publication to South Australian history
• How much, if any, of the publication has already been digitised? Is this content available on Trove?
• Is there a post 1954 access agreement in place, or can one be obtained from the publisher before digitisation?
• How much money has been raised, if any, that can be contributed to the project?

How to apply

Please send your application to slsaimageservices@sa.gov.au.

Applications for the 2024-2025 financial year are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 19 April 2024.

contact

Kimberley Dye
Team Leader Digitisation and Digital Preservation
Phone: (08) 7424 6235      

Email: kimberley.dye@sa.gov.au