Grant helps library digitize newspapers
Early editions of The Star-Herald will be available online
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Accessing past issues of The Star-Herald can soon be done via computer, thanks to a recent grant that will allow staff at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library to archive older newspapers online.
Photo courtesy of MET Library
CHECK PRESENTATION — The Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library received a grant from the Maine Community Foundation which will be used to archive newspapers. Pictured for the check presentation are, from the left: Kari Wells-Puckett, representing the Maine Community Foundation, and Reference Librarian Lisa Neal Shaw.
“The Maine Community Foundation has awarded a $2,000 grant to the library to digitize older editions of The Star-Herald for public access. The grant matches funding by a private donor in Colorado and local historians,” said Reference Librarian Lisa Neal Shaw.
Shaw said the initial donations enabled the library to send microfilm reels of local newspapers dating from the mid-1800s through 1919 away for professional digitization.
“The newspapers will soon be available for viewing by anyone with access to the Internet through the library’s website: www.presqueisle.lib.me.us. The matching grant from the Maine Community Foundation will further allow for more reels dating from 1920 forward to be digitized,” said Shaw.
Grant money for the project comes from the Aroostook County Fund.
Shaw said the library continues to be a source of historic information, with requests being received from all over the country. Having past issues of the newspaper available online will not only provide easier access for the public, it will allow staff to spend time formerly devoted to aiding patrons with newspaper research to other projects instead.
“The library received over 250 requests for local history and genealogy information in 2012; further requests are also fielded through other library departments, the Aroostook Genealogical Society, the Presque Isle Historical Society, The Star-Herald, SAD 1 and Presque Isle’s City Hall. Many of these requests come from out of the area and even out of state,” said Shaw.
“Library volunteers Ann Cushman and Steve Vance, whose contributions made this grant possible, have worked with library staff to make a database of obituaries from The Star-Herald available online,” added Shaw.
The local paper isn’t the only thing now available online through the library however.
“Other artifacts of historical significance made available online are the Presque Isle High School newspaper (the Flyer) from the early 1900s, oral histories from around the area and donated photographs. There are plans to add much more over the coming year,” said Shaw.
The digitized Star-Heralds will be accessible through the library’s website in the coming weeks and months, according to Shaw.
“Anyone who would like to know more about this project or donate to it is welcome to contact me at the library by calling 764-2571, e-mailing lisanealshaw@presqueisle.lib.me.us or by following Presque Isle Librarians on Facebook,” said Shaw.
