The digitized printed media presented in digiPress range from the 17th century to predominantly the 1920s. The focus – and at the same time the collection emphasis of the BSB – is on Bavarian newspapers since the 17th century, unique titles such as revolutionary newspapers of all political directions (1848/ 1849), party journals of highly diverse political orientations, the Catholic press in Bavaria, trade and associations' newspapers, as well as humoristic-satirical publications. A large number of the newspapers retrievable in digiPress are of supra-regional importance. In total, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek holds 5,250 different newspaper titles. The library thus makes available one of Germany's largest collections of newspapers.

digiPress stands out for its particular user-friendliness. The portal offers the option to sort all titles according to their place or area of distribution on the one hand. On the other hand, the new calendar overview offers a time-directed point of entry, which thus goes beyond the individual newspaper titles. All digitized titles can be retrieved individually via the title list and are searchable in their entirety in the full-text version.

The digital copies can be zoomed in and out comfortably and stepplessly, maximising their readability. Compliance with the so-called IIIF standard (International Image Interoperability Framework) makes it possible to visualise, structure and exchange digital objects between cultural institutions all over the world.

Director General Klaus Ceynowa: "Newspapers are the 'sweep hand of history' and are accordingly of great interest not only to academic research, but also generally to the interested public. The new newspaper portal digiPress is a prime example showing how digitized holdings can be searched quickly, easily and efficiently, and the results can be used by every citizen."

bavarikon offers a further possibility to access digiPress directly from its home page. The portal to the art, culture and regional studies of the Free State of Bavaria thereby expands its digital holdings, for the first time presenting a large collection of historical newspapers.

Via digiPress:  https://digipress.digitale-sammlungen.de
Via bavarikon:  https://www.bavarikon.de/?locale=en

Press release for download
Press release  (in German)  (PDF, 70 KB)

Contact

Birgit Seiderer
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Department Acquisition, Collection Development and Cataloguing 2
Ludwigstr. 16, 80539 Munich
Phone:  +49 89 28638-2627
zeitungen@bsb-muenchen.de

Peter Schnitzlein
Press and Public Relations
Phone:  +49 89 28638-2429
presse@bsb-muenchen.de

About the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek:
Founded in 1558 by Duke Albrecht V, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek is an international research library of world renown. With almost 10.5 million volumes, around 59,000 current journals in electronic and printed form and almost 131,000 manuscripts, the library ranks among the world's most important centers of knowledge and heritage institutions. With 1.5 million digitized works, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek holds the largest digital data stock of all German libraries. The library offers a broad range of services in the field of innovative digital use scenarios.