Contact: Marsha McDevitt-Stredney
Marketing & Communications
State Library of Ohio
Tel: 614-644-6875
marshams@library.ohio.gov
September 24, 2012
State Library Board awards $400,000 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grants to six libraries and organizations
The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce that the State Library Board recently awarded $400,000 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grants to six libraries and organizations. Hamilton County Educational Service Center received an automation grant; Ohio Historical Society and University of Cincinnati Libraries received Technological Innovation grants; and Holmes County District Public Library, Mount Sterling Public Library, and Oakstone Academy received Services to Targeted Populations grants.
Automation Grants may be used to convert a card catalog, join a consortium and participate in statewide resource sharing. Technological InnovationGrants are awarded for the use of new technologies or the use of current technology in a different way to improve access, services, or support to library customers. Targeted Populations Grants may be used to provide services to targeted populations including, but not limited to, people of diverse geographic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; persons with limited functional literacy and information skills; and those individuals having difficulty using a library.
“The funded proposals range from what is perceived as a traditional library service, the purchase of a bookmobile to digitization, a library service that is becoming more prevalent as libraries seek ways to provide greater access to materials, particularly historical materials” said Missy Lodge, Associate State Librarian for Library Development. “All of the funded applicants did an excellent of defining a need which the project will seek to address.”
The grant period is October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013. A financial match of 25% of the total project cost is required for all Ohio LSTA grant programs. The organizations, grant amounts, and program activities include:
Hamilton County Educational Service Center, $42,050, to automate 10 schools in four districts across the state. Schools will use the Sirsi/Dynix integrated library system to automate and connect to the INFOhio union catalog. This project will directly impact 6,004 students and 437 teachers.
Holmes County District Public Library, $38,853, to provide increased services to rural populations, particularly the Amish. The library plans to place book drops around the county, allowing individuals to return materials between bookmobile stops without traveling the distance to one of the library’s two remaining branches. A cargo van will be used to collect materials.
Mount Sterling Public Library, $112,485, to purchase a mobile library to enhance library service to underserved portions of the library service district. The library service district covers 248 square miles of rural farming area. The new mobile library will make 40 visits per month at the school campus, Head Start, senior center, Community Center and other locations.
Oakstone Academy, $92,118, for the purchase of iPads® and apps for use with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and related disabilities. A pilot program indicated that ASD students using an iPad® and interactive texts had a higher understanding and comprehension than those using traditional texts. This project will expand the use of iPads® at the Academy. Additionally, the iPads will be used to support students in the community job placement program.
Ohio Historical Society, $53,825, to microfilm and digitize the Ohio State Journal. This was the primary paper for Ohio throughout much of the 19th and early 20th century and is widely used by scholars, students, and genealogists. Following digitization records will be loaded into Ohio Memory. Additionally, OHS staff will conduct training to assist other libraries interested in undertaking local newspaper digitization projects.
University of Cincinnati Libraries, $60,669, to digitize historically significant photographs and negatives from 1920 –1956. These images, approximately 8,100, from the archives of the City Engineer, City of Cincinnati, provide a comprehensive documentation of the development of Cincinnati as well as a general record of urban development.