The Fairfield Public Library is working to preserve Jefferson County’s journalistic heritage through an ambitious digitization project that will make historical newspapers accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
In partnership with Advantage Archives of Cedar Rapids, the library has undertaken a $63,292 initiative to convert the county’s historical newspaper collection into high-resolution digital images and searchable PDF files. The project is currently about 20% complete.
Recent progress includes the digitization of rare Fairfield Tribune editions that had never been preserved on microfilm. This work was made possible through $13,000 in grants from the State Historical Society of Iowa and $2,500 in funding from the Greater Jefferson County Foundation.
The project’s ultimate goal is to digitize all of Jefferson County’s historical newspapers currently stored on microfilm, transforming them into a format that meets current preservation standards while making them accessible to researchers, genealogists, and history enthusiasts worldwide.
Once digitized, the newspapers will be available online at fairfield.historyarchives.online, allowing users to search and view historical editions anytime, anywhere.
Library Director Alecs Schmidt-Mickunas is encouraging community members to support the preservation effort. Those interested in contributing to the project can contact Schmidt-Mickunas at 641-472-6551, extension 4.
The digitization project represents a significant investment in preserving Jefferson County’s historical record while ensuring future generations can easily access these important primary source documents.
