Local Public Domain: Treasures In Your Own Backyard

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Sometimes we get so involved online with our searches for public domain material that we overlook the treasures right under our noses. Step away from the computer just for a moment and look around. Did you know that mountains of public domain material exist right in your own neighborhood?

Take a trip to your local library and ask the reference librarian if you can search the old newspapers or any old work they might have on microfiche. Some of the very best material for your websites and blogs may come from antique town newspapers. In the United States, you'll want to use those that were published prior to 1923.

Check out your town or county courthouse for more public domain material that can be used, especially if you're compiling any product on genealogy. If your town has a museum, look there for some old material you could photograph and use. Some lawyers' offices in my town actually house antique books. And don't forget a trip to the local newspaper office! They may have pre-1923 material that can be accessed and used for your product.

Some OCR software now allows you to take photos of text with a cell phone and scan it into a usable text file. So no worries if you can't actually take the material home with you to scan.

Some people don't take the time to search out local material, thinking that it won't be applicable for their projects or websites. Actually, these local newspapers and brochures often contain recipes, tips, how-to articles and short stories that are perfect for numerous types of sites and blogs!

Check out old calendars that local groups have put together. Sometimes they're filled with tips and tricks, especially for the gardening and health niches.

Old photos from your town newspapers can be compiled to make fun local booklets - perfect to offer for sale at Chamber of Commerces or Travel Booths. You could create a book of old Christmas recipes from your city/community. Add in some vintage photos and some clipart, and you have a quick and easy print book to sell! These go over wonderfully in autumn and winter craft shows.

Take your time unearthing the old treasures of the past, and don't immediately discard anything. If it was written prior to 1923, chances are with a little brainstorming, you can monetize it! Chances are, you're sitting on a gold mine of public domain material- right in your own hometown!


About the Author:
Lisa Rae Preston is the author of the Ultimate Public Domain Sourcebook, over 300 pages of sources for all things public domain, including books, photos, film, audios, and software. For your free copy of this book, visit http://www.pdsourcebook.com



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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