From microfilm to modern: Valentine library brings 100 years of local newspapers online
For years, the only way to read old newspaper articles in Cherry County was by scrolling through rolls of microfilm. But that technology is fragile, and local librarians worried history was literally breaking apart.
By News Channel NebraskaVALENTINE, Neb. — For years, the only way to read old newspaper articles in Cherry County was by scrolling through rolls of microfilm. But that technology is fragile, and local librarians worried history was literally breaking apart.
“It’s a technology that degrades over time. That film gets really brittle and can break. It was really in the back of my mind that we’re losing all of that history,” said Valentine Public Library Director Carrie Graham.
That concern led Graham to apply for grants to digitize the county’s newspapers spanning from 1883 to 1987. The library secured several grants, including one from the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation.
“This is some really great information about Cherry County and its history, but it wasn’t searchable, so unless you already knew it, you couldn’t find it,” Graham said. “We’re just losing more and more stories every day.”
Now, those newspapers are online and searchable, making it easier for families, historians, and researchers to uncover local history.
“Maybe everyone has a family member that talks about this big event, but life is so interesting. Some of these little moments that we’re discovering in these papers are really great,” Graham said.
Some of those moments include an 1892 story about a speaking contest, where the newspaper promised not to critique contestants but then offered criticism anyway. Another article questioned why Valentine never opened a pickle factory, noting such ventures had been successful elsewhere.
“Play around with it,” Graham said. “It’s fun to discover some of the past.”
The archives are available on the Valentine Public Library website.