An oral history of the rise and fall of a newspaper library: The Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Province newspaper library, 1968–2012

Abstract

This is a case study chronicling the rise and fall of the newspaper library that serviced the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Province daily newspapers in Canada during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This article examines a specific case of the decline of a major metropolitan newspaper company, the subsequent closure of the library that served two newsrooms, and the dissolution of its collections. A narrative inquiry approach to oral history was used to gather stories from the individuals involved in the development of the newspaper library. Reflections on the value and persistence of the collections developed by newspaper libraries are offered.