Those wanting to look up old editions of newspapers at the J. Elliott McMullan Public Library in Newton have a better way to do it now.
The Newton Arts Council donated money to purchase a new microfiche reader to replace the library’s current one, which was more than 20 years old and was no longer working properly.
Betty Thames with the Newton Arts Council said the library had lost the ability to print out from the microfiche for library patrons and the machine wasn’t working properly.
“They don’t make replacement parts for that type of microfiche reader,” Thames said. “The Arts Council looks out for ways we can help the community, and this is something that is important to our community. We’re glad that we were able to help out.”
The new reader is much smaller and uses a computer to print out clippings. Now, patrons will be able to search the archives of newspapers including the Newton Record and the Ledger, a predecessor to the Clarion-Ledger that began in Newton in the late 1800s.
Thames is also helping the library to acquire microfiche archives of the Union Appeal and the Newton County Appeal for readers to be able research.
In addition to newspapers, the library also has information available for those searching genealogical records.
Thames said the former microfiche unit will be given to the Union Public Library, which houses the headquarters for the Kemper-Newton Regional Library.
