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Library of Congress Research Guides

U.S. Newspaper Collections at the Library of Congress

How to Find a Newspaper

Jack Delano, photographer. [Woman at Main Reading Room card catalog in the Library of Congress]. Between 1930 and 1950. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

U.S. Newspapers are found in physical formats such as original print or microfilm, or in digital format. A newspaper could be held in one format or all three, depending on the date of publication. Keep in mind that not every U.S. newspaper has been digitized and the Library of Congress does not hold a copy of every newspaper published. For more information, see the LC Collections Policy Statement for United States Newspapers.

Below is information on how to search the Library of Congress Online Catalog and the Library of Congress E-Resources Online Catalog. Be aware that most e-resources are limited to on-site access only. If you are unable to find what you need, please use our Ask A Librarian service, as reference staff also use printed resources and catalogs that are not found online.

Please note that unbound newspapers cannot be requested through the online catalog. All requests must be done in person in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room (NCPRR).

Searching the Library of Congress Online Catalog

The Library of Congress Online Catalog is the main access point for the Library's collections Library of Congress collections contain over 162 million books, periodicals, manuscripts, maps, music, recordings, images, and electronic resources. The online catalog contains 17 million records describing these collections.

If you have a newspaper citation and want to check our physical holdings:

  1. Using Browse, enter the newspaper title in "TITLES beginning with (omit initial article)" field. Omit any initial article, unless it is part of the newspaper's title, e.g., Los Angeles Times.
  2. Click "+Add Limits," select "Periodical or Newspaper" under "Type of Material," then click "Search."
  3. Many newspapers share similar names (e.g., Herald, Times, Post, Tribune). Try selecting the place of publication if it is known.
  4. Depending on the number of related titles, there may be multiple results. Be sure to check that the date you need is within the listed publication's date range before selecting a record.
  5. Once you select the record (you may need to check several), scroll towards the bottom under "Item Availability" and check "Older Receipts." This lists the dates of the issues we have in various formats (microfilm, bound, portfolio, etc.).

Need more help searching the Library of Congress Online Catalog? Check out Search/Browse Help.

If you know the location and time frame, but not the newspaper title:

  • Use the Directory of U.S. Newspapers in American Libraries to find out what newspapers were published in a specific place and time period. Select the location and time frame, which will retrieve a list of titles and publication information for each title. The directory also indicates whether or not the Library of Congress or other U.S. libraries have holdings.

Deciphering Library of Congress Online Catalog Call Numbers

Stumped about a term or number in the Library of Congress Online Catalog? Here's what you might find in a newspaper record:

TERM OR NUMBER WHAT IT MEANS
Current Issues Only We keep print issues until they are reformatted (microfilmed or digitized). Certain dates not available if being reformatted. Also known as "CIO."
FT MEADE We have bound volumes of original print issues located in off-site storage in Fort Meade, MD; these must be requested at least 3 days in advance of a visit to the NCPRR.
Microfilm Scaled-down reproductions of newspapers on film to be viewed on a microfilm machine. Request using microfilm number.
Microprint/Micro-Opaque Scaled-down reproductions of newspaper collection on cards to be viewed on a microfilm machine; most likely a Readex publication.
Np Master or print negatives available for duplication via Duplication Services.
Only "Newspaper" We may not have complete holdings; we usually keep print issues until reformatted (microfilmed or digitized); these may not be available if being reformatted.
Portfolio A few single loose issues of original print newspapers stored in a large paper folder known as a portfolio. Call numbers generally have "X" at the end as an indication.
ex: "Newspaper 8829-X: portfolio"
UNC Unclassified call number. We likely do not have this title or it may be cataloged differently and appear in a different record.
4598 call number Part of a collection of brittle titles that cannot be served.
7000 call numbers The few issues with these call numbers are often our only holdings of these newspapers, although publication histories given near the beginning of catalog records provide a full date range. For example, our record for the Los Angeles Examiner gives the publication history of Vol 1, no. 1 (Dec.12, 1903) - Jan. 7, 1962, while we only have April 13 - 14, 1945 and two other issues. These few issues that we have are listed under "Item Availability" in the lower part of the record.
  • 7000 -- 67 single issues of anniversary and miscellaneous special numbers.
  • 7001 -- 71 single issues of Black newspapers published in various parts of the country.
  • 7002 -- Miscellaneous American newspapers recording the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. This call number contains 613 titles of individual issues from mid-April 1945 in bound volumes.

Searching the Library of Congress E-Resources Online Catalog

The Library of Congress E-Resources Online Catalog is a catalog for discovering and gaining access to electronic research tools (e-resources). The catalog includes licensed resources and free resources on the Web recommended by our reference staff.

If you have a newspaper citation and want to check our digital holdings:

  1. Using the "All Resources" tab in the Library of Congress E-Resources Online Catalog, conduct a basic search and select "Title Begins With (omit initial article)" from the drop-down menu. Then, enter the newspaper title and "search."
  2. Depending on the number of related titles and entries, there may be multiple results. Any dates listed will be the publication's start date, not necessarily what is available.
  3. Once you select the record (you may need to check several records and entries), bibliographic information will be available on the left while digital access information is on the right.
  4. There may be multiple databases that include the newspaper. Be sure to select the database title that has the date you need and also check "Authorized Users" to learn if the database is available as "free public access" or "on-site" only. Again, be aware that most databases are limited to on-site access only.
  5. Select the database by clicking on the database title.
Subjects: Newspapers
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