Bringing the past to the present

The number of digital newspaper initiatives is growing rapidly to bring the past into present electronic. This development is not limited to the US, but more than 40 countries is growing significantly. The Utah Digital Newspaper (UDN) program has become a model for many institutions across the country. It is on the leading edge for newspaper digitization, especially within the public sector. It is easily accessible, easy to use, free of charge, and it is beginning to make Utah newspaper microfilm obsolete. This program presents digital images and searchable text of historic Utah newspaper to the general public through websites. UDN launched its website in December 2002, with 10, 000 pages each from the Wasatch Wave, The Time Independent, and the Vernal Express. The UDN program continues to develop into the future to incorporate technological innovations to aid in searching or browsing.