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How to get articles from newspapers we do not have (via Interlibrary Loan - -ILL)

ILL can retrieve newspapers on microfilm for users. Often researchers need a broader overview of an ongoing story or event - -you may have to request a broader date range. When that is the case, specific information (author, specific date, article title) is not required for ILL.

What is required is the title of the paper, publication location (if possible) and the range of dates needed. Submit using the ILLiad Microform request form. The information should be presented like this: Chicago Daily News (May 1 – June 17, 1963). Any further information the user wishes to supply should be put in the Notes field.

A few things to remember about newspapers on microfilm:

Not every newspaper is microfilmed. If the paper is not on microfilm there is very little chance we will be able to borrow it through interlibrary loan. Travel may be in the requestor’s future if they simply must see the paper.
With the exception of “big city dailies”, some titles may not be filmed through their complete run. The dates needed may not be available.
It is often very difficult to borrow newspapers from the city or region in which they originate because of high local demand. For example it’s nearly impossible for us to borrow the film for the Seattle P-I from a library in the Puget Sound area. So there is a better chance of being able to borrow if the title is held widely.
Give yourself lots of lead time. Most libraries limit the number of film reels they will supply at one time to 6 or less. Requesting long date ranges often requires repeated requesting – submitting a new request for the remaining dates when the loaned reels are returned. There can be anywhere from a couple of weeks to years on a reel depending on the size of the paper and where it was microfilmed, it is always advisable to provide the complete date range in the request – you never know.

To locate holdings in other libraries, use:
Summit
WorldCat
Washington State Union List of Newspapers on Microfilm Ref. PN4897.W3 W36 1991
Newspapers On Microfilm Ref. PN4731 .U53
Newspapers In Microform: Foreign Countries, 1948-1972 Ref. PN4731 .U53 While very out of date, this identifies papers that have been filmed, and gives some idea of what years might be available, and which library owns them.

7.19.05