Twelve Libraries Receive
IMLS Digitization Grants

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded more than $2.7 million in digitization grants to 12 libraries for projects that will add special materials to their Web sites. “Libraries hold a wealth of resources that once were only available to scholars,” IMLS Acting Director Beverly Sheppard said in a September 19 announcement. “Making library collections available on the Web contributes much-needed educational content to the Internet.”

Some of the funded projects include:

• $219,618 to Louisiana State University to create a digital repository of research material relating to the Louisiana Purchase;
• $442,677 to New York Public Library to digitize 30,000 images from its picture collection;
• $130,078 to Northern Illinois University to digitize presidential campaign song books from 1840 to 1860 and create digital sound files of selected songs; and
• $221,629 to the University of the Virgin Islands to digitize photographs, newspapers, and other texts relating to the islands’ history and culture.

Library Preservation or Digitization Grants are a special category of National Leadership Grants administered by the IMLS, which awarded more than $8.1 in all categories. An additional $1.2 million went to tribal libraries that applied for the first Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants. A complete list of the institutions receiving awards is found on the IMLS Web site.