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Newspapers

Introduction

Photo by NS Newsflash (flickr)

UBC Library has an extensive collection of newspaper sources. The collection includes both current and historical newspapers; newspapers from Canada, US, and international sources; newspapers in print, online in databases, and other formats such as microform.

Use this guide to find print, online, or microform copies of newspapers and newspaper articles available at the UBC Library.

To find articles you may:

  • search by topic - a person, company, event, etc. To find articles by topic you will need to use the online indexes and databases, or print indexes, listed in this guide.
  • search for a known article in a particular newspaper. Use this guide to determine if the Library has the newspaper title for the date you require; it may be available online, on microfilm, or if it's very current, in the original print version.
What are Microforms?
"Microfilm Reels" by Paul Lesack (HSSD).

Microforms refer to materials, such as books and articles, that has been produced on film. Microfilm refers to the reels you see in the image. Microfiche looks like cards. To use this material you will need to use microform readers, machines that allow you to read, copy, and scan the information on the film.

The second floor of Koerner Library contains the microform collections and readers (machines). Help is available if you need it, for finding the microforms you need and using the readers or reader/scanners.

Printing Microforms

Koerner Library owns 5 microfiche/microfilm printers, 1 microcard printer, and 1 microfiche duplicator. Copies of all microform, microfiche and microcard material cost 20 cents (+tax). To print material you must have a Library Copycard.

Scanning Microforms

Digital copies may be made from microfilm or microfiche. This use of the scanners is available free of charge to UBC Library cardholders or patrons with guest access. Scans can be emailed, burned to a CD, or save on a USB storage device. Daily use of the scanners is restricted to two non-consecutive one-hour slots. Sign-up sheets are available at the Journals/Microforms desk to reserve a scanner in advance.

British Columbia

UBC Library has an extensive collection of British Columbia newspapers. Major newspapers are available in print for the current 3 months at Koerner Library. Online issues of newspapers are available from a variety of databases. Historical newspapers are also available; most are in microformat, with indexing ranging from non-existent to complete coverage depending on the newspaper.

Contemporary

  • Canadian Newsstand: Start your search here. The major database for Canadian newspapers, with online full text of Canadian newspapers - coverage from mid-1970s to current. BC content includes the Vancouver Sun, Province, Times-Colonist, and local weekly papers.

Historical

Use the indexes below to start your research in historical newspapers.

More information on how to use the microformat indexes is found under the Indexes/Databases/Guides tab.

  • BC Newspaper Index: The major index to historical BC newspapers. The BC Legislative Library has selectively indexed the Vancouver Sun, Province, Times-Colonist (and its predecessors). The focus in on BC history, politics, and economics.
Online: 1991-2007
Microform: 1900-1990
  • BCARS: Indexes articles in a variety of historical British Columbia newspapers.
Microfiche: pre-1900 to 1980s.

BC Newspapers by Title

Major local, Vancouver, and BC papers in the UBC Library collection, contemporary and historical

Canada

Contemporary

  • Canadian Newsstand: Start your search here. The major database for Canadian newspapers, with online full text of Canadian newspapers - coverage from mid-1970s to current. Canadian content includes the Globe and Mail and the National Post.

Historical

Use the indexes below to start your research in historical newspapers. More information on these resources is found under the Databases/Directories tab.


Canadian Newspapers by Title

National


Provincial

US & International

Factiva

  • Full text of Canadian and international newspapers. International newspapers include: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times, Times [London], Le Monde, Washington Post. License allows only 6 simultaneous users; Lexis-Nexis is another source for many of the same newspapers.

Factiva Inside Out User Guide (PDF) - examples for advanced searching including using connectors such as: and, or, not, w/#, atleast, same, and more.

LexisNexis Academic

  • Full text of U.S. and International news sources.

LexisNexis Help with advanced search strategies - examples for advanced searching including using connectors such as: and, not, w/#, atleast, w/p, w/s

ProQuest Historical Newspapers

  • Offers full-text and full-image articles for newspapers dating back to the 19th century. For most titles, the collection includes digital reproductions of every page from every issue - cover to cover - in downloadable PDF files. Collection includes: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Christian Science Monitor.

World News Connection

  • Important international English language news source. Includes newspapers and news magazines, radio and television broadcast transcripts. Areas covered include Central Eurasia, China, East Asia, Near East & South Asia, East Europe, West Europe, South and Central America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Information is generally available within two to three days of original publication or broadcast.

US and International Newspapers by Title

Follow the links for information on UBC Library collections of these titles in print, online, and microformat.

Historical

Major strengths in the UBC Library collection include:

  • historical British Columbia newspapers; the majority of these newspapers are available in microformat. Search the UBC Library catalogue by title, or ask for more help at the Koerner Library reference desk.
  • the Globe and Mail from 1844 to present
  • major international newspapers: available through databases including the Proquest Historical Newspaper collection and the Times Digital Archive, and through microformat collections in Koerner Library

The Google Newspaper archive also has many historical newspapers, including Canadian titles, in its free online collection. List of titles and dates available here.


Full Text Online Historical Newspaper Collections

Canadian

International

Historical Newspapers by Title

British Columbia

The majority of BC historical newspapers are available in microformat. Search the library catalogue for the name of the newspaper, using the 'journal title' index. If you aren't sure which newspaper you want, ask at the Reference Desk at Koerner Library; or consult the Union Catalogue of British Columbia Newspapers to find the titles of newspapers published in BC, then search the catalogue to determine if we have the title in our collection.


Canada


US/International

Databases & Guides

B.C. Newspaper Index - 1900-1990 (microfilm)

  • This index has selective coverage of the Vancouver Sun, Province, Times-Colonist (and predecessors Victoria Times and Colonist) for 1900-1990. It was developed by the BC Legislative Library so the focus is articles about BC history, politics, and economics. This index on microfilm is images of the original index cards. You can search only by subject or name headings.
  • It is important to start your search by first finding suitable subject headings: consult the B.C. Provincial Library Newspaper Index List of Subject Headings and updates. Once you have found suitable subject headings, proceed to the microfilm collection for the B.C. Newspaper Index at Koerner Microforms AW1 R5065, consult the appropriate reels, and note the citations to articles you wish to read. The articles are found on other microfilm reels for the appropriate newspapers and dates.


Still need help? Ask for assistance at the Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Desk in Koerner Library.


B.C. Newspaper Index - 1991 - current (online)

  • This online index has selective coverage of the Vancouver Sun, Province, and Times-Colonist for 1991 to current. It is produced by the BC Legislative Library so the focus is BC history, politics, and economics. Search by subject/name, headline, author, keyword. Because this is an index, once you have found references for articles of interest, you must then locate the full text of the articles in either microfilm or online newspaper collections at the Library. Canadian Newsstand has the full text of most articles listed in this index.

BCARS (British Columbia Archives and Records Service) Newspaper Index - pre-1900 to 1980s (microfiche)

  • Indexes articles in a variety of historical British Columbia newspapers. Microfiche of BCARS index cards for newspaper articles. Coverage from pre-1900 newspapers through to 1980s. Depth of coverage varies. Because this is an index, once you have found references for articles of interest, you must then locate the full text of the articles in either microfilm or online newspaper collections at the Library.

Canadian News Index

  • This multi-volume print index covers various Canadian newspaper titles: Calgary Herald, Halifax Chronicle Herald, Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun, and Winnipeg Free Press. This index covers the years 1980-1992.

Canadian Newspaper Index

  • This multi-volume print index covers various Canadian newspaper titles: Globe and Mail, Montreal Star, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun, and Winnipeg Free Press. Index covers the years 1977-1979, and is continued by the Canadian News Index (above).

Canadian Newsstand

  • Online full-text and indexing of national and leading regional newspapers. Full access to the articles, columns, editorials, features, and selected letters to the editor. Date coverage varies but typically last ten to fifteen years.

CBCA Complete

  • The Current Events section of this database features newspapers, newswires, and newsmagazines as well as television and radio transcripts. It is updated daily, with full text content and indexing.

Factiva

  • Full text of over 9000 news sources. Has Canadian and international newspapers, including the Globe and Mail. Updated daily with no embargoes. License allows only 6 simultaneous users.

Index to Prince George Newspapers

  • Print index of 6 Prince George newspapers from 1909-1923.

LexisNexis Academic

  • Full-text online news source for some Canadian newspapers including the Globe and Mail, but focus is U.S. and international sources.

Newspaper Index for Saskatchewan

  • Print index of Saskatchewan newspapers from 1930-1983.

Peel's Prairie Provinces

  • Index and full text to historical prairie newspapers; over 35,000 newspaper issues.

Saskatchewan News Index

  • Online searchable index of stories published in Saskatchewan newspapers 1884-2000.

Union Catalogue of British Columbia Newspapers

  • This invaluable 3-volume set attempts to "include all known newspapers published in the province." Search by newspaper title, place of publication, or type of newspaper (including ethnic, political, financial, labour, student, and underground). Record for each title includes: dates of publication, publishers and editors, frequency of publication, indexing sources for each title, variations on titles (former, merged with, continued by, etc.), and holdings (institutions that own copies, by date and format).


If you don't see the index you want, check this source: Checklist of Indexes to Canadian Newspapers held by the National Library of Canada.


US and International Newspaper Collections - Full-Text Databases

Factiva

  • Full text of Canadian and international newspapers. International newspapers include: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times, Times [London], Le Monde, Washington Post. License allows only 6 simultaneous users; Lexis-Nexis is another source for many of the same newspapers.

Factiva Inside Out User Guide (PDF) - examples for advanced searching including using connectors such as: and, or, not, w/#, atleast, same, and more.

LexisNexis Academic

  • Full text of U.S. and International news sources.

LexisNexis Help with advanced search strategies - examples for advanced searching including using connectors such as: and, not, w/#, atleast, w/p, w/s

ProQuest Historical Newspapers

  • Offers full-text and full-image articles for newspapers dating back to the 19th century. For most titles, the collection includes digital reproductions of every page from every issue - cover to cover - in downloadable PDF files. Collection includes: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Christian Science Monitor.

World News Connection

  • Important international English language news source. Includes newspapers and news magazines, radio and television broadcast transcripts. Areas covered include Central Eurasia, China, East Asia, Near East & South Asia, East Europe, West Europe, South and Central America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Information is generally available within two to three days of original publication or broadcast.
source: http://wiki.ubc.ca/Library:Finding_Newspapers_and_News_Sources

Last updated on July 27, 2012 @12:47 pm

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