British Library - Newspaper Library

[Jim LFC]

I'm not sure if any of you are aware of this link which directs you to a mine of information about 1st issues of many of our top clubs and a few from some that are not so popular. It would appear that as well as all these gems there is a fine selection of football magazines and football related newspapers, something for everyone!!

The question is, as a library, how easy would it be to gain access and dare I say obtain scans of these rarities?

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/ephemera/football/index.html

[Goonerak]

The answer is: incredibly easy.

If you haven't already registered as a user you will need to do this first. All you need is proof of who you are and where you live.

You then search the online catalogue, add up to 10 items to your basket (newspapers and programmes tend to be held in volumes of a whole year).

Send in your order and go and collect them when they're ready.

You can then photograph hard copies of papers / photographs with your own camera or use the microfilm readers to take copies of microfilms.

A few things to consider:
If you're not yet a registered user, you can still order items in advance to be made available on the day you register.

Some items are held at Boston Spa and require 48 hours notice to have them brought down to Euston. When you add items to your basket you will be told this. I think all microfilms are held at Euston.

Some rarer items can only be viewed in the Rare Books reading room. But this won't affect ordering or photographing items.

The hardest thing about it all is working out how to get a decent sized print from the microfilm readers.

There is a copy of a 1915 Arsenal programme that I photographed in this blog:

http://thearsenalhistory.com/?p=9137

[Jim LFC]

Goonerak wrote:

The answer is: incredibly easy. If you haven't already registered as a user you will need to do this first. All you need is proof of who you are and where you live. You then search the online catalogue, add up to 10 items to your basket (newspapers and programmes tend to be held in volumes of a whole year). Send in your order and go and collect them when they're ready. You can then photograph hard copies of papers / photographs with your own camera or use the microfilm readers to take copies of microfilms. A few things to consider: If you're not yet a registered user, you can still order items in advance to be made available on the day you register. Some items are held at Boston Spa and require 48 hours notice to have them brought down to Euston. When you add items to your basket you will be told this. I think all microfilms are held at Euston. Some rarer items can only be viewed in the Rare Books reading room. But this won't affect ordering or photographing items. The hardest thing about it all is working out how to get a decent sized print from the microfilm readers. There is a copy of a 1915 Arsenal programme that I photographed in this blog: http://thearsenalhistory.com/?p=9137

Thanks for that Goonerak, helpful as ever!

Not sure about that risqué whacking cartoon though....

[Goonerak]

That one is quite tame compared to others from that era! And as for whenever we travelled to the "black country"...