Archive newspapers are generally decaying very rapidly and - in most cases the use of original copies is restricted because they are so delicate

Our library is part of a national Newsplan initiative that is preserving the content of newspapers and making them more widely available though archival microfilming

Cardiff Libraries recently needed to dispose of some regional newspapers that were converted to film as part of the plan (due to their imminent move to a new site)

We hadn't collected these newspapers originally due to a lack of space (and not being here pre-1936!), and only started to routinely collect cuttings from the late 1970's.

While we still can't physically keep them - long-term - but we can and will work with volunteers and partners to make local use of them - and will naturally keep the newspapers with the most important local news until they eventually turn to ashes. 

We have received the following copies from Cardiff:

• Western Mail bound copies for 1888, 1893, 1894, 1911-1937
• South Wales Echo copies for 1964 to 1975

They are bulky, fragile and very valuable to us - until we can extract the information we need and forward most of them to another library

If you or someone you know would be willing to help us by borrowing a newspaper and searching it on behalf of the community please contact us as soon as possible at library.services@merthyr.gov.uk

The 1966-1967-1943-1974 newspapers will not be available for home loan

Thank you