NDNP Content
Selection
Successful selection of newspapers for digitization is the result
of combining judgments about the information value and completeness
of available titles, with analysis of the image capture quality
that is possible from a given set of microfilm. NDNP assumes that
negative microfilm will play a leading role in digital image capture
and that original paper copy will fill only a limited supporting
role.
Image Quality Selection Criteria:
1. Technical Quality of Microfilm
Newspaper titles meeting intellectual selection criteria for high
research value, geographic and temporal coverage must be of sufficient
image quality on microfilm to yield satisfactory digital images
and automated text conversion output. Poor quality microfilm and/or
poorly prepared original material on microfilm will likely yield
unsatisfactory results. See the NDNP Phase 1 Technical Guidelines
for information on how to assess the quality of microfilm.
Intellectual Content Selection Criteria:
1. Research Value
The foremost reason for selection of an individual title for digitization
is that the newspaper significantly reflects the political, economic
and cultural history of the State. These include, but are not limited
to, titles of statewide or regional influence and titles important
as a source of information about a variety of ethnic, racial, political,
economic, religious, or other special audiences or interest groups.
Preference should be given to titles that are recognized as "paper
of record" at the state or county level and contain published legal
notices, news of state and regional governmental affairs, and announcements
of community news and events, including births, deaths, and marriages.
2. Geographic Representation
One objective of the NDNP is to ensure broad geographic coverage
of American newspapers in digital form. Preference should be given
to titles that provide state coverage or at least multi-county
coverage of a majority of the population.
3. Temporal Coverage
Titles that provide coverage of a geographic area or a group over
long time periods are preferred over short lived titles or titles
with significant gaps. Scanning will be limited initially to the
time period 1880-1910 but good candidate titles may eventually
span many decades before or after this target period. Continuity
is preferred over short runs or scattered issues.
Refined Selection Criteria:
In cases where more than one paper meets historical, geographic,
and temporal criteria the selection committee may need to consider
additional factors in making final decisions.
1. Bibliographic Completeness of Microfilm Copy
Newspapers issues will be scanned primarily from publicly available
master microfilm. These files must be essentially complete within
the 1880-1910 timeframe to achieve the temporal selection criteria.
Important titles with only sporadic issues on microfilm would not
be good candidates at this phase of the project. An almost complete
microfilm file can be enhanced through the scanning of paper copies
when available.
2. Orphan titles
Given the tremendous volume of newspaper material published during
the target time period (1880-1910), it is likely that both private
and public efforts will be undertaken to make this material available
in digital form. High research value titles that have ceased publication
and lack active ownership likely to invest in future digital conversion
should receive special consideration for NDNP.
3. Diversity
Newspaper titles that document a significant minority community
at the state or region level during the target time period (1880-1910)
should be considered as a means to balance content. Only English
language titles may be converted during NDNP's development phase.
4. Duplication
Newspapers titles that have already been converted to digital
form in a commercial product are not to be considered at this time.
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