IMLS Grant
More than 7,000 photographs from the nationally recognized Albert Stone Negative Collection will become available online to the public for the first time through a collaboration between the Rochester Public Library and the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC). The library Board of Trustees voted October 21 to approve a partnership agreement with RMSC to expand its Rochester Images online digital database by adding 7,500 photographic images from the Stone collection owned by the museum. The collection features thousands of photographs that document the daily life and times of the Rochester area from 1904 to 1936. The library and RMSC will also work with the Rochester City School District to make the digital collection available to elementary and secondary school students studying local history. The project is made possible by a $279,346 grant from the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Fifty IMLS grants totaling $10.4 million were awarded in four categories of competition, including "model programs of cooperation between libraries and museums with emphasis on how the community is served, technology is used, or education is enhanced." The Rochester Public Library was one of the twelve winners in this category, and is one of only two public libraries that are among the recipients of the fifty grants. Rochester Public Library Director Richard Panz said, "This prestigious award enables us to make 22,000 images available electronically to the Rochester community. It will further enable the City School District to not only meet but enhance the New York State Local History curriculum requirements." "Libraries and museums are more important than ever in this age of information, helping Americans navigate information resources and find meaning in an increasingly complex world," said Beverly Sheppard, acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. "We are proud of these forward-thinking National Leadership projects that will increase access to information and help libraries and museums better serve the public." National Leadership grants provide opportunities for libraries to address pressing needs in education, research and preservation, and for libraries and museums to work together to address community needs, expand audiences and implement the most effective and appropriate technologies. | Central Library Home | General Information | LIBRAWeb | Central Library of Rochester and Monroe
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