NEW state-of-the-art digital microfilm scanners installed at select libraries are proving a hit with historians.

The scanners have been installed at libraries including Northallerton and Ripon by North Yorkshire County Council.

The Konica SL1000 machines make viewing resources on microfilm and microfiche much easier and have touchscreen technology.

The digital scanner also creates high-quality images that users can save to a portable device or print out.

County Councillor Greg White, executive member for library and information services, said: “North Yorkshire libraries hold hundreds of rolls of microfilm covering many of the main local newspaper titles dating from 1836 up to the present day, as well as full Census returns for the whole county up to 1901.”