"Extra! Extra! Read all about it!": Collection Assessment of UMD Libraries’ Major U.S. Newspapers

Abstract

Newspapers are some of the most frequently used resources in the University of Maryland (UMD) Libraries. As a large academic library, UMD Libraries has vast newspaper collections that are spread over many formats (print, microfilm, and digital) and online databases, so it is easy for students, faculty, and staff to get confused with how to navigate these resources. Consequently, many users submit reference questions related to locating newspapers or specific articles. As a HiLS graduate student using UMD Libraries’ newspapers in her own Master’s thesis research, I was interested in learning more about the different ways that newspaper resources are presented to users. Working with Sarah Clinton-McCausland, Librarian for Journalism, Communication, and Open Education, this field study project aimed to audit and access UMD Libraries’ newspaper collections and aggregate this information in the pages of a new LibGuide for Newspapers.