MVC Murrell Library Receives Digitization Grant
The Murrell Library and Commons at Missouri Valley College has been awarded a Digital Imaging Grant by the Missouri State Library. This grant consists of Library Services and Technology Act funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Awarded Project Number 2021-LSD1-DIG21-074.
This project is to digitize resources from the Library’s historic collection of college materials, rare books, documents, photographs and publications from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church USA and Missouri Valley College history. The Library plans to use a single web portal to place these documents online using the brand name VikingScholar.
According to Dr. Bryan Carson, Professor and Director of Murrell Library and Commons, “Digitization of rare and significant resources creates an infrastructure that will have enormous utility for decades to come. These materials go beyond items of local and College interest, such as yearbooks and theses from the early 1900s, and include a number of truly unique publications.”
The ultimate goal of VikingScholar is to reach multiple audiences. Professional and amateur scholars from various disciplines will discover material in these collections that will expand their understanding of American history and culture. The general public, including genealogists, will also be able to use these collections to pursue their own research. Murrell Library and Commons also plans to enhance the usefulness of the archival materials by creating a set of contextual materials for K-12 teachers and students that will be tied to national standards.
“As centers of learning and catalysts of community change, libraries and museums connect people with programs, services, collections, information, and new ideas in the arts, sciences, and humanities. They serve as vital spaces where people can connect with each other,” said Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “IMLS is proud to support their work through our grant making as they inform and inspire all in their communities.”