Why preserve newspapers

Newspapers are an essential part of history. They tell us what happened in the past. The words and pictures in old newspapers can teach us many things. But newspapers do not last a long time. The paper gets yellow and crumbly as it gets older. The words can fade until you cannot read them anymore. If we want to keep newspapers so people in the future can learn from them, we have to protect them. We must store them in unique ways so they do not get ruined.

The importance of newspapers

Newspapers have been around for hundreds of years. They print the news of what is happening in the world. Newspapers also have stories about people, places, and events. They have pictures, too. Newspapers can tell us what life was like in the past. They show us the significant events in history, like wars and elections. But they also show everyday life. We can read about what people ate, what they did for fun, and how much things cost long ago.

Why newspapers need to preserve

The problem is that newspapers are printed on cheap paper. This paper does not last a long time like some books do. The chemicals in the paper make it change color and get brittle. You have probably seen old newspapers that are brown and crumbly. This happens because of acids in the paper. Sunlight and moisture in the air can make the paper get worse faster. Bugs and mold also like to eat paper. So if we want to keep newspapers for history, we must protect them from all these things that can damage them.

Ways to preserve newspapers

There are several different ways to keep newspapers safe. These methods make newspapers last much longer. Places like libraries and museums use these methods, and you can use them if you have old newspapers you want to save.

Storing newspapers safely

The simplest thing is to put newspapers somewhere cool, dark, and dry. Heat, light, and moisture hurt paper. You want to keep newspapers away from all of those. Basements can be too damp. Attics can be too hot. The best place is a closet in the central part of the house. Put the newspapers in a cardboard box or a particular folder. You can get these from an art supply store.

Using acid-free materials

It also helps to use acid-free paper or boxes to store newspapers. Regular paper and cardboard contain acids that can leak into the newspaper and make it fall apart faster. You can buy special acid-free paper and boxes. Put the newspaper between sheets of this paper or in these boxes. This keeps the acids away from the newspaper.

Microfilming

Another way to preserve newspapers is to take tiny pictures of them. This is called microfilming. A special camera makes a small image of each newspaper page on a roll of film. If stored right, these films can last a long time. Many libraries have microfilms of old newspapers. People can read the newspapers by looking at the microfilms with a machine that makes the pages bigger again.

Digitizing

Today, we also save newspapers by scanning them into computers. This is called digitizing. The newspaper pages are scanned and turned into digital images or PDF files. These files can be put on websites or stored on computers. Digitizing does not hurt the original newspaper. It is a good backup in case something happens to the actual newspaper. Many newspapers are digitized now so that people can find and read them online.

Preserving newspapers at home

If you find old newspapers in your house, you can help preserve them. The best thing is to keep them somewhere cool and dry. You can also put them in acid-free boxes. Avoid touching the newspapers too much because the oils on your skin can stain the paper. Always wash your hands before handling old papers. If you want to read them a lot, think about digitizing them. You can take them to a copy shop to be scanned. Then you can look at them on a computer instead of always handling the real thing.

What not to do

There are some things you should not do with old newspapers. Do not laminate them or cover them with plastic tape. The glue and plastic can hurt the paper over time. Do not use regular tape, either. The best thing to repair tears is special archival tape. Do not cut out articles from newspapers you want to save. Keep the whole newspaper together. If you’re going to cut something out, make a copy or scan that page and cut the copy instead.

Displaying newspapers

Sometimes, people like to put old newspapers in frames to hang on the wall. This is okay, but you have to be careful. Use an acid-free mat behind the newspaper in the frame. Make sure the glass does not touch the newspaper. Keep the framed newspaper out of direct sunlight. The sun can fade the words and make the paper get brittle faster. The best place to hang it is on a wall away from windows and lights.