19th century newspapers now online (UK)

19th-century newspaper reports ranging from the Battle of Trafalgar to the Jack the Ripper murders are now available online. The British Library has just launched a new site, featuring historic events from 1800 to 1900 and free for those in Further and Higher Education. New imaging techniques have allowed the digitisation of national and regional UK publications, previously only accessible in reading rooms. Reports on the Slavery Abolition Act, the Congress of Vienna and opening of the Suez Canal are amongst the one million pages included. The scheme is a joint venture with JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) and Gale/Cengage Learning. Sir Colin Lucas, Chairman of the British Library, commented: ‘Research by UK communities relies on access to the very best publications and information sources for its survival.’