Slide 1

Techniques of preserving Bengali
Newspapers available both in electronic
and print version with special reference
to West Bengal

Pritam Gurey
Professional Assistant
Visva-Bharati, Central Library, Santiniketan
E-mail: [email protected]


Slide 2

‘A good newspaper is a nation
talking to itself ’
– Arthur Miller (1915-2005)


Slide 3

Introduction:


Preservation is the oldest and most
fundamental function of libraries and
archives.



Preservation is concerned with evidence
embedded in the intellectual content of
objects and in the objects themselves.



Preservation of newspapers is utmost
necessary in order to retrieve the
correct information of past.


Slide 4

Importance of Newspaper
Preservation:


as news become history,



as to improve access,



as daily important facts are found,



Newspaper may perish but not the news
they contain.


Slide 5

Overview of Bengali Newspapers in West Bengal
Print

On-line

Aajkaal

Y

Y

http://www.aajkaal.net

Absar

N

Y

http://www.abasar.net

Amader Malda

N

Y

http://www.ndparking.com/amadermalda
.com

Anandabazar Patrika

Y

Y

http://www.anandabazar.com

Bangla Ganashakti

Y

Y

http://bangla.ganashakti.co.in

Bartaman Patrika

Y

Y

http://bartamanpatrika.com

Century Sangbad

N

Y

http://www.suprovat.com

Dainik Statesman

Y

N

Ek Din

Y

N

Gold News

N

Y

http://www.goldnewsindia.com

Sambad Pratidin

Y

Y

http://www.sangbadpratidin.net

Uttar Banga Sambad

Y

Y

http://www.uttarbangasambad.com

Name

Website


Slide 6

History:
Name

Owner

Yr. print

Yr. Online

Aajkaal

Abhik Kr. Ghosh

1981

2004

Anandabazar
Patrika

ABP Pvt. Ltd.

1922

2001

Bartaman
Patrika

Bartaman Pvt. Ltd.

1984

2002

Ganashakti

CPMI, WBSC

1967

2004

Sangbad
Pratidin

Swapan Sadhan
Basu

1992

2003

Uttarbanga
Sambad

Uttarbanga
Sambad Pvt. Ltd.

1980

2003


Slide 7

Preservation Methods:


Different methods are used for ◦ Hardcopy
◦ Hard to softcopy
◦ Softcopy (Born digital)


Slide 8

In case of Hardcopy:


Newspaper clippings / Press
Clippings



Bound Volume / Binding



Encapsulation



Lamination


Slide 9

In case of hard to soft copy


Microform: film / fiche



Digitising


Slide 10

In case of Softcopy (born digital):


Digital Preservation


Slide 11

Problems:


Bengali newspapers have the following
problems –
◦ Binding
◦ Space
◦ Searching and indexing
◦ Image storing
◦ Bit stream
 UNICODE


Slide 12

Conclusion:


Preservation of newspaper is utmost
necessary.



Converting hardcopy archives to digital
resources, digital preservation in terms of
preventing paper deterioration as well as
full utilization of the archives can be
possible.


Slide 13



Digital storage may have low to high risk as
hardware and software changes very
frequently and life expectancy of the formats
are still not known.



Functionality of microfilm is uncompromised
but when compared to digital storage as it
provides more easy access to the desired
information.


Slide 14



Microfilm shows very low risk if proper film
base, processing, and physical environment
are maintained.



Financial support & technologically
experienced person is required for proper
preservation of these Bengali Newspapers.


Slide 15