/ Case Studies Heritage Digitisation
British Library (Boston Spa) - Irish Newspapers Collection
On-site digitisation of highly fragile bound newspapers using conservation-led handling techniques
Microform was engaged on behalf of Cengage to support the digitisation of the Irish Newspapers collection held at The British Library (Boston Spa).
The project comprised 200,000 images from extremely fragile bound newspaper volumes dating from the early 19th to early 20th century.
The work formed part of a wider initiative for digital publication via Gale.
/ The Challenge
How do you digitise highly fragile bound newspapers on-site, without moving the volumes, while protecting the physical collection and meeting publication-quality standards?
Collection and conservation requirements
The collection consisted of tightly bound newspaper volumes exhibiting significant fragility, including fracturing pages and weakened paper structures. Due to the age and condition of the material, all digitisation had to be carried out on-site, with no movement of volumes permitted.
- Early 19th to early 20th century newspaper volumes
- Highly fragile, tightly bound material
- No off-site transfer permitted
- Controlled handling and capture required throughout
Microform approach
Digitisation was carried out on-site at the British Library's Boston Spa facility in close collaboration with the library's conservation team, who assessed each item prior to handling and capture.
- V-cradle systems used to support bound volumes
- Phase One iXG camera systems with foam supports
- Conservation tools including bone folders, snakes, and weights
- Two complementary capture setups used depending on item condition and structure
- Conservation-first handling to minimise stress on bindings and pages
Project delivery
The project demonstrated Microform's ability to operate effectively within a controlled national library environment while maintaining quality, preservation, and throughput.
- On-site digitisation within a controlled heritage setting
- Close collaboration with conservation specialists at item level
- Specialist cradle systems and heritage-grade capture equipment
- Digital outputs aligned to publication requirements
/ Long-term benefits
Preservation-led handling
Fragile originals were protected throughout digitisation.
On-site delivery
Restricted material was digitised without leaving the library.
Publication-ready capture
Outputs were delivered to a high standard for Gale publication.
Controlled workflow
The project balanced conservation requirements with efficient production.
/ Outcome
The collection was successfully digitised to a high standard, preserving fragile original material while enabling digital access and publication via Gale. The project showed Microform's ability to deliver large-scale digitisation within tightly controlled environments alongside conservation teams.