Digitised Historical West Sussex Newspapers
You can print or download this West Sussex newspapers helpsheet [753 KB - not accessible].
Help with Digitised Historical West Sussex Newspapers
This help sheet will show you how to search for, save, and print articles from local newspapers scanned from originals held by West Sussex Library Service and West Sussex Record Office.
Searching a newspaper
Log into a public access computer in a West Sussex Library. To access digital newspapers, double-click on the Documents icon on the desktop.
Choose This PC then Local History Sources.
From the menu shown double-click on Newspapers.
Next double-click the title that you wish to search, for instance, the West Sussex Gazette.
Each folder contains the newspapers for the years 1914 to 1925 and 1939 to 1945. To view the West Sussex Gazette for 1922, double-click on the year, then on the month that you wish to look at:
Now double-click on the file link. Note that while the page is loading you will see a window that reads Say hello to easy file access.
Close this window by clicking the X in the top right corner.
Now you should see the first page of the first issue of the newspaper for 1922.
To begin, click Edit then Advanced Search. (Note that we recommend using Advanced Search not Find).
The Search panel will appear on the left-hand side of the screen.
To search in the current edition of the paper simply type your keyword(s) in the What word … box and click Search.
Note that the Search box displays assorted options including Whole words only (e.g., a search for stick will only find stick not sticky) and Case Sensitive (e.g., a search for May will omit the word as a preposition e.g. “It may be true”).
Selecting Whole words only can reduce the time taken to perform the search. Below are the results of a search for “demobilisation” in the January 1922 Mid-Sussex Times.
Click on the link to view the results. Note that the keyword(s) are highlighted in blue in the displayed article. To enlarge the article so that you can read it use the zoom controls.
To print or save the article, click Edit from the toolbar, followed by Take a snapshot.
The cursor will change to a cross-shape.
Position it above and to the left of the extract that you wish to save or print. Then left click and hold the button down.
Now drag the cursor across the extract so that it is highlighted in blue. When you release your finger, an onscreen message will confirm your edit.
Click on the Start menu (bottom left of the screen) and from the
A-Z list of programs select Word.
Open a blank document, then right click on the mouse.
Your extract will now appear, and you can print or save the page.
Note that you can also paste your selection into PowerPoint.
Instead of opening Word open a blank PowerPoint presentation and paste your extract onto a blank slide.
Above is an example of a newspaper edit, copied into Word using the snapshot tool.
Note that all digitised newspapers are watermarked in this way, but they are still easy to read, especially by using the zoom facility.
If you prefer to search an entire year of the same newspaper, begin by repeating steps 1 to 6 of this guide.
When you arrive at the Search box, instead of entering keywords click the down arrow by the My Documents box.
Then single click Browse for Locations, followed by This PC, then double-click Local History Sources, followed by Newspapers.
Once again select the newspaper and year that you wish to search, followed by OK.
Enter your keyword(s) and click Search. You will see a warning message. Click Allow.
Your results will display but will appear month by month.
Copyright
Please note that West Sussex County Council Library Service created these files and owns the copyright. You are welcome to save, and print, whole files, or extracts, for private research or teaching, including multiple copies. You must contact us to request permission before publishing or sharing them online, in print, talks or exhibitions as we shall require a specific credit line, and/or a link. We may charge a fee for commercial use. For permission or further information, please email enquiriesteam@westsussex.gov.uk
Other ways we can help you find the information that you need:
This guide has been produced by West Sussex County Council Library Service ©2023