Manx National Heritage makes fresh bid to save online newspaper archive

Manx National Heritage is attempting to keep its online newspaper archive available, following a public outcry over plans to end the service.

The organisation said it had identified an interim technical solution which, if successful, would allow users to continue accessing more than 150 years of Isle of Man newspapers while work continues on a longer-term arrangement.

However, MNH stressed that it could not guarantee the attempt would succeed.

The update follows an announcement last month that the archive, hosted on its iMuseum website, would cease to be available from this week because the specialist software and server infrastructure supporting it had reached the end of their operational life.

The latest announcement has been welcomed by users, researchers and historians who have voiced concerns about losing access to the searchable digital resource.

The online archive covers newspapers dating back from 1960 to 1792, with more than 400,000 pages from 42 titles available, following a project costing more than £2m from a variety of funding sources.

Manx National Heritage previously estimated it would cost around £270,000 to digitise Isle of Man newspapers from 1961 to 2020, with the pace of the work dependent on its ability to raise the necessary funding.

MNH said the server would need to be taken offline for extended periods between 10.30am and 4pm on Monday to allow technical work to take place.

Users experienced intermittent access to the archive throughout the day.

The organisation said the work was necessary to give the service ‘the best possible chance of remaining available in the immediate term’.

If the interim solution works as intended, the existing service would remain available temporarily while MNH develops and implements a longer-term solution.

It said it would provide another update as soon as possible following Monday’s work.

In its latest statement, MNH acknowledged the response to its original announcement, saying the ‘outpouring of support and offers of help from people both on the island and around the world has been remarkable’.

It added: ‘The strength of feeling shown by users of our service has reinforced just how valued this resource is and highlighted the importance of us being able to secure a sustainable long-term solution.’

The update prompted a positive response on social media, with users welcoming the renewed attempt to preserve access.

Robert Thomson described it as ‘really positive’, adding that MNH had listened to the community and was being proactive in finding a solution.

Sue King said the archive was a ‘fantastic resource’ and expressed hope that future generations of researchers and historians would also be able to benefit from it.

Another user, John Manley, described the development as ‘fabulous news’, thanking those involved in trying to ensure the service remained available.

Others echoed the sentiment, with several expressing hope that the technical work would be successful.

The online newspaper archive has been available through iMuseum for more than a decade, giving users access to historical newspapers spanning more than 150 years.

It provides a searchable record of the island’s history, documenting everything from political developments and major public events to local businesses, community life and individual families.

For historians, journalists, students and family researchers, the ability to search digitised editions can make it considerably easier to find information about people and events from the past.

The archive is particularly valuable because users can search for names, places and dates without necessarily knowing when a particular event happened or which edition might contain the information.

Its importance was highlighted last month by island historian and researcher Peter Kelly, who criticised the proposed withdrawal of online access.

Mr Kelly has spent much of his adult life researching the history of buildings and architecture across the Isle of Man, particularly in Onchan.

He said digital searching had transformed the process of historical research, which could previously involve days or weeks of reading newspapers on scratched microfilm.

‘And of course, if you didn’t know when something happened, where do you start your research?’ he said.

He also raised concerns about the short notice given to users, with some researchers already working on books and student dissertations.

When announcing the planned withdrawal last month, MNH stressed that the newspaper archive itself had not been lost.

The organisation continues to hold and preserve the underlying digital data, while original newspaper editions remain part of the national collections.

The issue concerns the technology required to make the archive accessible online, rather than the survival of the historical material itself.

MNH said the existing software and server infrastructure were no longer supported, meaning it could not continue providing the service through iMuseum in its current form.

The organisation had been exploring alternatives but had not initially identified a solution that was both sustainable and affordable.

The latest interim proposal offers a potential way to maintain access while a more permanent arrangement is developed.

If online access is interrupted or the interim solution proves unsuccessful, researchers can still consult the newspaper archive at the Manx Museum’s library and archives in Douglas.

Historical editions are available on microfilm, with the library open from Wednesday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

The planned change affects the online newspaper archive only. Access to more than one million other records available through iMuseum is expected to continue as normal.

MNH’s wider responsibilities include preserving historic buildings, museums, archaeological sites, collections and the island’s natural heritage.

The organisation has said it is reviewing its digital infrastructure to identify secure, sustainable and cost-effective ways of providing online access to its collections in the future.

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