Locating Newspapers Offline

To locate newspapers offline, use a map to pinpoint the locality and any major nearby cities, then consult Editor & Publisher International Yearbook (New York: Editor & Publisher Co., most current issue) or Ayer Directory of Newspapers and Periodicals to find newspapers in the area. Canadian researchers can consult Union List of Canadian Newspapers Held by Canadian Libraries.

One resource which may be available to you through your local library is the U.S. Newspaper Program National Union List (http://www.oclc.org/oclc/promo/2894usnp/2894usnp.htm). This tool identifies newspaper repositories and lists their holdings. Ask your reference library for further information. Most other countries also have some sort of a Union List...consult your local librarian for information.

Sometimes newspapers change hands and originals are lost to the public. Historical societies and genealogy societies are the place to check when you're looking for a newspaper no longer in existence. Sometimes historical societies inherit collections of old newspapers, and they either pass them on to genealogy societies, or make them available for searching. Some newspapers are too frail to be handled; hopefully those are the first to be microfilmed (you may want to check with nearby libraries to find out if there is a microfilming project for that area).