Information storage and retrieval in UK national newspapers: some effects of change

Abstract

The highly publicized upheaval in the UK newspaper industry has brought significant implications for newspaper librarians, particularly with regard to the automation of procedures. This article offers an assessment of the kinds of information used and sought, and the kinds of information handling carried out. The function of the established personal collection is discussed. A more rewarding and prominent role for newspaper librarians in the future is envisaged, with online database use becoming a major factor: with this use will come a desirable transfer of emphasis from storage to retrieval. The apparent failure of some newspapers to include information services and systems in their modernization strategies is criticized.