SmallTownPapers, Inc

Seattle, WA – June 29, 2008 – “This is an absolutely necessary extension of our newspaper,” said Tim Robinson of Robinson Newspapers in Seattle. Robinson Newspapers is in the process of working with SmallTownPapers to digitize a portion of its archives dating back more than 80 years. “We embraced this concept because it serves a wide audience of interest.”

For Robinson Newspapers, the digitizing project means peace of mind knowing that the bound archives can remain in storage – safe and intact – with few reasons for anyone to handle the delicate, aging pages of the bound books. Instead, newspaper reporters, researchers, genealogists and others needing information about their community’s history will have immediate access to a high-quality, easy-to-search, online version of the newspaper archives.

Publishers, including Robinson Newspapers, appreciate the careful handling of their bound volume archives. For the scanning of such delicate books, SmallTownPapers contracts with Maryland-based Crowley Micrographics, known for its experience, expertise and high quality standards in the “non-destructive” scanning of old and fragile bound books and large format materials such as newspapers. The company uses specialized, high-resolution, overhead scanners created by Zeutschel, a global leader in high performance scan systems.

Seattle-based SmallTownPapers, Inc., working with Crowley, has made millions of small-town newspaper pages online-accessible and searchable for the first time. Crowley has completed the digitization of more than two million pages of historical newspapers from small towns across the country. After set-up of services, the daily scanning volume averages more than 6.000 pages. Phase two of the project is currently underway: an anticipated 20 million pages which will be made online accessible and searchable. The collection is made up primarily of weekly newspapers, dating back as far as the 1800s. “This project would not be where it is today without Crowley,” said SmallTownPapers president Paul Jeffko in NewsWire Today. “They have earned the respect of our publishers who feel confident sending their one-of-a-kind materials to Crowley. “ This project has the potential to include up to 40 million pages over the next several years.