National Library of Australia

Access

At the heart of the Australian Newspaper Plan is the belief that communities should be able to explore their rich newspaper heritage.

Through the Australian Newspaper Plan, newspapers are preserved and copies made available for the public to use.

Vicky Dimcevska looking at historic newspaper in National Library Newspaper Reading Room

Viewing a historic newspaper in the National Library of Australia's Newspaper Reading Room

How to access Australian newspapers

Libraries Australia

The Libraries Australia search facility provides access to the national database of material, including newspapers and newspaper microform copies, held in Australian libraries. You can search for any item and locate which library in Australia holds it. Libraries Australia is available to all public users free-of-charge.

Libraries' Online Catalogues

The Australian Newspaper Plan libraries record information about their newspaper holdings on their online catalogues which can be accessed through their websites (see Partners). The following compilation of websites may also be helpful. Online catalogues of many other Australian libraries can also be searched via the internet (see Australian Libraries Gateway). Microfilmed copies of many of the newspapers published in Australia are held in local, university or State libraries across the country and may be used on-site or requested through interlibrary loan.

Online Newspapers

Current Australian online newspapers may be accessed by going directly to their website; many may also be accessed through the Australian Newspapers Online website.

Digitised Newspapers

The Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program is providing free online access to digitised fully text-searchable historic Australian newspapers. On 25 July 2008 the Australian Newspapers Beta service was launched to the public. The Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program is an initiative of the National Library of Australia and is being carried out in conjunction with the Australian state and territory libraries.

Other Online News Resources

Many libraries subscribe to online news resources - e.g. Factiva, Sydney Morning Herald archives.

For librarians:

Australian Newspaper Plan partners have recently developed new guidelines for standardising the way libraries record information about their newspaper microfilm holdings so that all versions of newspapers can be easily found on the one database through Libraries Australia. These guidelines are available at: the Libraries Australia descriptive cataloguing policy web page.

Last updated: 29/9/08

How to access Australian newspapers

Libraries Australia

Libraries' online catalogues

Online newspapers

Digitised newspapers

Other Online News Resources