Markmedia

Australian Newspapers beta Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954

The National Library of Australia has launched a public beta of its 'Australian Newspapers' site. The site will offer access to scanned images and text from historic Australian newspapers dating from 1803 to 1954.

The site looks awful at the moment. Clutered and not pretty. But it is a beta and the information is interesting and useful.
It will only get better

Chronicling America Update: 73,000 newspaper pages added - now includes papers published 1890-1910 and 2 new states - Nebraska and Texas

On August 1, more than 73,000 newly digitized newspaper pages were added to the Chronicling America Web site at www.loc.gov/chroniclingamerica/, including content from 2 new states - Nebraska and Texas - and expanding coverage in the 1890s.

With this update, the site now provides access to more than 642,000 digitized newspaper pages, published between 1890 and 1910, and representing 74 newspapers from California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
Chronicling America is a project of the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP), which is a partnership between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Glasgow tagged [Make a local PiciWiki]

The Glaswegians Photo Archive is a byproduct of the Cranhill Arts Project, the largest documentary photography project in Scotland; 30,000 photographs taken between 1989 and 1992.

This on-line archive provides a selection of these photographs that are "a record of Glasgow through photographs of its people - their lives, habits, quirks and cultures." 
The images are organized into topical albums, such as "Things You Don't See Anymore" where aspects of Glasgow that have disappeared or been altered in the sixteen years since the photographs were taken are displayed. 
These lost Glaswegian sights include orange and black buses, smoking in pubs, and getting pissed.
Or Nice Glaswegian Ladies, which is exactly what it says on the tin.
Another album, Protest and survive, shows just how hated the Poll Tax was with Glaswegians and goes on to group celebrations like May Day and the release of Nelson Mandela with other political campaigns. Visitors can sign up for an account in order to tag photos, and with or without an account, it's possible to search or browse by existing tags.

In this flickrista age, why is there not an archive of every town in the UK, with taggable pictures and the ability to build the stories told by the pictures? Make a local PiciWiki and grow the knowledge.

Update: Joanna at the Birmingham Post let me know about a similar site for the the West Midlands - the big picture

Drug Information Portal

This database, launched in February 2008, provides information about over 12,000 drugs, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, dietary supplements, drugs of abuse, and investigational drugs. Searchable by generic or brand name, or browse resources by drug class or by audiences such as the public or librarians. Also includes news, featured drugs, and related resources.
 

Cambridge University: Digital Image Collections

http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk

Over the course of the past eight centuries, Cambridge University has come into the possession of more than a few important documents. Their online digital image collection may be seen as an important first stop for anyone interested in perusing some of these remarkable materials.
These documents include The Portsmouth and Macclesfield Collection, which contains the writings and ideas of Sir Isaac Newton, and the sketchbooks of Conrad Martens, who accompanied Charles Darwin on board the Beagle. Visitors can also browse the pages of the 13th century illuminated volume, “The Life of King Edward the Confessor”.

Database of African Theses and Dissertations

 The DATAD database contains citations and abstracts for theses and dissertations completed in African universities. The launching database includes works from all subject areas in ten leading universities and includes abstracts written by the authors.

In order to search, you must register and then login before you will be able to access brief citations in the DATAD database. To search the entire database you will need to subscribe or connect from a subscribing institution.
http://www.aau.org/datad/database/login.php

Land Registry House Price Index

The Land Registry House Price Index (HPI) captures changes in the value of UK residential properties. The HPI is published by the Land Registry, using sales data collected on all residential housing transactions, whether for cash or with a mortgage, in England and Wales since April 2000.
Iindices can be searched at a national level, as well as for the various regions, counties and London boroughs.

An interesting function is the possibility to compare house prices in two locations

The Caffeine Database(s)

Ever wonder how much caffine there is in your drink?
Check out the Caffine Database
There is also a related list of caffeine in mints, chocolates, and other assorted candies and sweet things

legacy of slave trade

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO has launched an interactive educational resource African Passages on the legacy of the trans-atlantic slave trade. Using visuals, music, scholarly commentary and educational activities;

African Passages

• connects the history of the Ashley River Corridor in South Carolina with its roots in Barbados and Africa;
• links the past to the present with the voices and images of the descendants of slaves; and
• reveals the persistence of African cultural heritage through practices and traditions handed down through generations.

World Demographic Trends

World population is expected to reach 6.6 billion in 2007 according to a report of the Secretary-General entitled, World Demographic Trends (E/CN.9/2007/6).

The report presents an overview of demographic trends for the world, its major areas, the development groups and selected countries. The topics covered include population size and growth [Africa has the biggest growth rate at 1.21, Europe has negative growth], fertility and contraception, mortality [life expectancy in North America 82.7 yrs, in Africa 65.4], international migration, population aging and urbanization.

The report also includes information on population policies and summarizes the concerns and views expressed by Governments with respect to major population trends. Learn more about the UN's activities related to Population from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.