Frequently asked questions regarding the UO Libraries’ transition from microfilm to digital preservation:

Why did the UO Libraries’ transition from microfilming current newspapers to collecting born-digital PDFs of current newspapers?

Microfilming equipment, supplies, and expertise to repair and maintain the microfilming process are nearing extinction. Parts are no longer available, film and chemicals are hard to find, and there are fewer and fewer technicians who know how to repair the equipment, which is in constant need of maintenance. In addition, public libraries have been lobbying staff members at the UO Libraries not only to digitize more historic newspaper content but also to provide digital access to current newspapers as opposed to preserving newspaper content on microfilm. As noted in the recent report “Oregon’s Digital Collections: Recommendations” (2013) by DC Plumer Associates, the statewide and national demand for access to digital content continues to grow, contributing to the demise in the need for microfilming services.

What are the implications of the new digital program for newspaper publishers in Oregon?

The UO Libraries ceased its microfilming of newspapers in 2015. Current newspapers will only be added to Historic Oregon Newspapers with permission and participation from publishers. Each publisher must decide whether or not they want to participate in the digital program.

Publishers who choose to participate will have their newspaper content made keyword searchable and freely available to the public online in Historic Oregon Newspapers. Participating publishers have the option to select an embargo period as well as a copyright statement for their content. Digital content submitted by publishers will be preserved and stored by the UO Libraries.

What are the costs associated with adding current newspapers to the Oregon Digital Newspaper Program (ODNP)?

As part of its public service and preservation mission, the UO Libraries has been subsidizing the high cost of microfilming newspapers over the past several decades, and will continue to cover reasonable costs associated with receiving, processing, storing, and hosting current newspapers in digital format. There is no cost to publishers for participating in the digital program, and all content on Historic Oregon Newspapers is freely available to the public at no cost.

What current newspapers will be included in the digital collection?

Publishers have full control over whether or not their newspapers will be included in the digital collection at Historic Oregon Newspapers. In order to be included in the collection, publishers must submit a signed license agreement and submit their PDFs to ODNP. See a full list of participating current Oregon newspapers.

How will current digital newspapers be made available online?

All current digital newspapers will be made available online at Historic Oregon Newspapers along with digitized historic Oregon newspaper content. All content in Historic Oregon Newspapers is keyword searchable and freely available to the public.

Why are current issues missing from some titles?

Publishers have the option to select a waiting period, or embargo, for their most recent issues to be added to Historic Oregon Newspapers. The embargo can be three months to three years. For example, for a newspaper with a one-year embargo, issues published in 2025 will not be available online in Historic Oregon Newspapers until 2026.

Do current newspapers retain their copyright when they participate in the preservation program?

Yes. Publishers do not sign away any of their rights when they agree to participate in the digital preservation program. Rather, publishers sign a license permission form that allows UO Libraries’ a non-exclusive right to host, distribute, and preserve newspapers for the purposes of research and education.

What do each of the copyright statements mean?

Release under Free Access License – all other permissions retained (http://www.europeana.eu/rights/rr-f/): the most restrictive license, which is akin to All Rights Reserved meaning no one can re-use the content at all, except viewing on the Historic Oregon Newspapers site and any additional uses granted by law, such as Fair Use.

Release under a Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): allows anyone to re-use content, for any purpose, including commercial purposes, as long as they give attribution to the paper. This is the least restrictive option.

Release under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/): allows people to re-use content for non-commercial purposes, as long as they give attribution to the paper.

Release under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/): allows people to re-use content, as long as they provide attribution to the paper, use is for non-commercial purposes, and they are not allowed to remix, transform, or build upon the published material.

For additional questions, please Contact Us.