Press Release
In 2018, the Millicent Library made available online the entire run of the Fairhaven Star newspaper, spanning from 1879 to 1967. Over 25,000 pages were digitized, allowing each article to be keyword searched with results segmented by article.
This project began in 2015 when the Millicent Library received a grant from the Fairhaven Community Preservation Committee.
Recently, we learned that our provider, Ignite Tech, is retiring the software that supports our digitized newspaper, giving us very little notice to find a compatible provider to migrate our collection. As a result, the Fairhaven Star is scheduled to go offline on June 27, 2024.
The Millicent Library is committed to maintaining online access to this historically valuable resource. We have been working urgently to find an affordable option that can migrate the digitized data to ensure it remains searchable and viewable.
We are currently planning to utilize Digital Commonwealth, a non-profit collaborative organization founded in 2006 in partnership with the Boston Public Library. Digital Commonwealth provides resources and services to support the creation, management, and dissemination of cultural heritage materials held by Massachusetts libraries, museums, historical societies, archives, and other cultural institutions.
We estimate that the Fairhaven Star will be available via the Digital Commonwealth in about six to eight months. This timeline is based on the preparation work needed on the digital files by library staff and the workload of Digital Commonwealth.
During the period the Fairhaven Star is offline, the Millicent Library will be happy to assist patrons in finding information. However, limited staff time may result in delays in locating and providing information.
Updates on the Fairhaven Star migration project will be posted at MillicentLibrary.org. For more information about Digital Commonwealth, please visit DigitalCommonwealth.org.
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Click here to download the 06-06-24 issue: 06-06-24 Graduation
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