LSU Libraries recently purchased Parts III-V of the British Library Newspapers using proceeds from the Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaar. The British Library Newspapers are digitized versions of key 19th century British newspapers. Parts III-V provide more access to local and regional news stories, with Part V providing access to a concentration of titles from the northern part of the United Kingdom. With the addition of 94 newspapers, users can now research more than 160 newspapers. The collections support research in disciplines such as History, Literature, Victorian Studies, and Political Science.
Friends of the LSU Libraries is a volunteer organization that has championed LSU Libraries for more than five decades. The organization supports the Libraries in developing and maintaining facilities, services, and resources through fundraising, public outreach, and volunteering. They are best known for the Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaar, an annual event with more than 70,000 books for sale. Proceeds from the bazaar go into an endowment that, over the years, has provided more than $1 million in support of library acquisitions and services. Currently, the endowment is valued at $2.2 million.
The LSU Libraries includes the LSU Library and the adjacent Hill Memorial Library. Together, the libraries contain more than 4 million volumes and provide additional resources such as expert staff, technology, services, electronic resources, and facilities that advance research, teaching, and learning across every discipline.