Digital archive taking shape at KM Group
The KM Group digital archive has moved another step closer.
Bound volumes containing historic pages of the South Eastern
Gazette have been catalogued, cleaned and repaired by a group of
volunteers.
The 1852-1912 pages have now been sent for scanning, to be made
ready for digitisation.
A grant for £49,725 met by the equivalent sum in voluntary hours
by KM staff and community volunteers has ensured that more than
30,000 pages will soon go online with free access to anyone in the
UK.
Digitorial, the company chosen to carry out the work along with
its scanning partner Microform Imaging, also hosts historic
newspapers including the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, The
Methodist, The Worker and Yorkshire Post.
Geraldine Allinson, KM group chairman said this is the first
step in the company’s plan to achieve a seamless archive for
readers across the world.
She said: “It is an exciting time now the historic pages have
actually gone for scanning. We already know that the experts are
really pleased with the quality of the scans.
“That is very much due to the hours put in by our volunteers who
painstakingly went through the pages to ensure they were in the
best possible condition.”
The digital archive is on schedule to be launched by Easter 2013
but voluntary project manager Lesley Bellew is hoping that the
archive will be free at www.kentonline.co.uk by
January.
She said: “Once the scanning and digital optimisation has been
completed, the volunteers will then be called upon again to check
the pages, test the searches and online access before we go live
.”
The South Eastern Gazette is considered a broad forerunner to
the Kent Messenger and covers national, international and local
news.
22/10/12
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