Library staff and patrons of The New York Public Library have never been more excited about an online resource than they have been about Newspapers.com, and with very good reason! The New York Public Library already provides access to hundreds of historical and current newspapers, however, Newspapers.com is the largest online newspaper archive. This online resource includes a special focus on full runs and portions of runs of well-known, regional and state titles in addition to small local newspapers. The collection includes a broad range of dates,  which mostly cover the 19th and 20th centuries. Patrons of The New York Public Library can visit any NYPL location and explore over 11,000 newspapers! 

This resource is especially popular with genealogy researchers, because people can access obituaries and local stories in small town newspapers. Historians also find this a valuable resource to see how events were covered in smaller regions of the country and other parts of the world.  However, this database is also an excellent learning tool, and if you know where to look you can take away valuable life lessons. To give you an example, here are five lessons to take away from our exploration of Newspapers.com.

1. Learn How to Write Your Online Dating Profile

Before the myriad of on online dating apps and websites came into existence, people relied on the "Lonely Hearts" columns of local newspapers to find their match. With the restriction of a limited word count, it took a clever hand to get the message across that the person was a desirable mate. Take a look at a couple of skillfully written entries we found:

2. Learn How to Be The Life of The Party

A good party or social event always has good party games. If you are searching for ways to always keep your guests excited about your events, look for games and contests in local newspapers. Here are a couple you might be interested in:

3. Learn What to Do When Kidnapped By Gangsters

In the 1930s, a nineteen year old Brooklyn man was kidnapped by gangsters. After his ordeal he decided to write about how he survived and shared it with the world, his story was highlighted in the Albuquerque Journal in 1938.

4. Get Sound Advice For Life's Most Troubling Problems

Advice columns were one of the most popular features in daily newspapers for decades. "The Dear Abby" column achieved international fame, while other smaller papers had local advice-givers as well. With the perfect blend of common sense and snark, advice columns helped numerous people out of everyday binds. 

5. Learn the Local Laws of Other Countries

If you are planning on traveling or moving abroad, it is wise to have an understanding of the local laws. Newspapers.com provides coverage of and access to international news and newspapers! 

Now that you have experienced a small taste of what Newspapers.com has to offer, visit your local New York Public Library branch or research library, get your library card and then jump in! While you're there, explore the other 500 + online resources available. You can also learn more about our online resources by visiting our LibGuide.

Resources

"Dear Abby." Kossuth County Advance (Algona, Kossuth, Iowa), 29 Dec 1966. Page 5. 

"A Law Recently Enacted...." The Lancaster News (Lancaster, South Carolina), 28 May 1898. Page 1.

"Lonely Hearts." The Evening News (Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania), 5 Nov 1928. Page 14.

"Several of the Events Were Not All That They Seemed...." Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio), 27 Aug 1922. Page 38.

"Titanic Sinking; No Lives Lost." Vancouver Daily World (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), 15 Apr 1912. Page 1.

"What to Do When Kidnapped!" Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico), 4 Dec 1938. Page 18.