The library service has a fairly comprehensive collection of past issues of our local newspapers. A number of minor short-lived titles are available. However, the main collections are:
- The Clydebank Press/Post 1891 - to date;
- The County Reporter 1964 - to date;
- Dumbarton/Lennox Herald 1851 - to date.
These are a great local history resource, but because of their frailty, library users will be given a microfilm or microfiche version to read on an appropriate microform machine. It is therefore advisable for readers to plan ahead if they can, and check in advance that a machine is available for the time they expect to arrive at the library.
It is also important for readers to be aware that editorial policy and content in older newspapers was rather different from today.
In the late Victorian period, for example, there was more print, more in-depth material, more national news, very few illustrations, advertisements took up less room, the written style was more formal and less "sensational".
