|
|
The funds will be used to buy boxes, folders, polyester film sleeves and other supplies to re-house archives and manuscripts dating from 1805 to 1977 that document the public history of Middletown, according to grant information written by Denise Russo, the project director, reference librarian who oversees the Middletown history collection.
With Russo’s work on the grant, the library is able to receive its first NEH grant, said Cathy Ahern, head of the library’s information services. "It’s really a great help."
The National Endowment for the Humanities recently announced 162 U.S. cultural institutions in 41 states and the District of Columbia will receive $5.5 million for projects that will take steps to preserve significant books, newspapers, films, audio recordings, papers and other important records of cultural history. Among the grants program were 149 Preservation Assistance grants for projects in museums, libraries and archives across the country, according to NEH officials.
"Too many of our significant cultural materials are threatened with physical deterioration as they age in our nation’s libraries, museums and archives," said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole said. "These new grants demonstrate the Endowment’s long-standing commitment to supporting the work of protecting and preserving these materials for study by future generations of Americans."
"We have a nice room, but we need materials to preserve (the collection)," Ahern said. "This will be a big help and will be used for four to five collections."
The supplies bought with the grant will be used to preserve a collection of donated historical records from the League of Women Voters, mayoral scrapbooks, early years of high school newspapers and city directories, she said.
There was a small collection in 1990, but Russo has developed it over the years, according to Ahern.
"In the last 15 or 20 years, it has blossomed," she said, adding the growing hobby of genealogy has been a contributing factor. "We get people coming in with ones from all over the country."
Three years ago the NEH launched the Preservation Assistance Grants category to enhance the capacity of institutions to preserve their humanities collections and to reach libraries, archives, museums and historical organizations that do not normally compete for NEH funding through its other preservation categories, officials said. With awards of up to $5,000, recipients may use these grants to support preservation assessments, consultations with preservation professionals, attendance at preservation training events and the purchase of preservation supplies and equipment. The NEH grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
To contact Amy L. Zitka, call (860)347-3331 ext. 211 or email azitka@middletownpress.com.
