By Ball State Marketing and Communications—
MUNCIE, Indiana – Ball State University Libraries, along with a few area partners, are hosting a community scan day—an opportunity for community members to have their family photographs and documents digitized, at no charge, in an effort to preserve local history.
The event, “Preserving Local History: Community Scan Day,” will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 14 in the cantina at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, 1200 North Minnetrista Parkway, in Muncie. In addition to having photographs and documents digitized and added to local digital archives, community members will be given a digital copy of their items on a flash drive or CD, or through a digital download.
“A community’s history is enriched through photographs and documents often tucked away in private homes in basements, closets, and attics,” said Matthew Shaw, dean of University Libraries at Ball State. “These items are inaccessible to researchers and their survival as digital scans will ensure preservation of the stories, memories, and experiences unique to the residents and families of Muncie and surrounding communities.”
Only paper documents and photographs no larger than 11 inches by 17 inches, plus photo negatives and slides, will be digitized during community scan day. If items brought to the May 14 event cannot be scanned at that time for any reason, participants will receive information on how to schedule a follow-up appointment for one-on-one assistance or other recommendations.
Community scan day participants are encouraged to pre-register as a way to save time.
Members of the public who have questions about this event may contact Jim Bradley, head of Metadata and Digital Initiatives at University Libraries, by email or phone: 765-285-5718; or contact Sarah Allison, head of Archives User Engagement at University Libraries, by email or phone: 765-285-3301.
Partnering with Ball State’s University Libraries on “Preserving Local History: Community Scan Day” are the Delaware County Historical Society, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, and Muncie Public Library.
About Ball State
Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State University is one of Indiana’s premier universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s 21,600 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world. The 790-acre campus is large enough to accommodate first-rate facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports, but our welcoming and inclusive campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State’s ambitious goals for our second century. We Fly!
