Library Puts Local Newspapers Online
The St. Mary’s County Library is excited to announce the availability of digitized newspapers on the St. Mary’s County Library website, www.stmalib.org. Full editions of The Enterprise from 1952 to present, and the Saint Mary’s Beacon from 1923 – 1984 are available for the public to search from anywhere with internet access. Customers can search by keyword the entire collection of The Enterprise or the Saint Mary’s Beacon at one time. It is also possible to search individual editions or years.
Sara Stephenson, Virtual Services Coordinator for St. Mary’s County Library, has been instrumental in this project. “Initially, those who wanted to access historical St. Mary’s County newspapers had to do so in person via a microfilm reader at the Lexington Park Library,” she explained. “Then, in the fall of 2014 we were able to provide searchable digital files on computers at all three library branches. Today, we are excited to make available a searchable archive that researchers can access from anywhere they have an internet connection. This resource will allow both local residents and those researching St. Mary’s County from afar to access valuable information about our county and its history.”
The transition from microfilm to searchable digital files was completed in 2014 by St. Mary’s County Library staff in partnership with Balance Imaging Solutions, LLC; The Enterprise and Post Community Media, LLC; St. Mary’s College of Maryland Library, St. Mary’s County Library Board’s Midge Cannetti Fund; St. Mary’s County Historical Society and St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society.
Once the newspapers were digitized, the Library Board contracted with Creekside Digital from Glen Arm, Md. to create a searchable, online database. Jim Studnicki, owner of Creekside Digital, has partnered with the Library to create an easy to use product for customers in St. Mary’s County and beyond.
“The Library Board is proud to have been able to allocate a portion of the library’s operating budget for this very important local history project,” said Joan Springer, Library Board President. “We are committed to funding the ongoing costs to maintain this service.”
