Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Makes Digital History

National grant takes "Iron and Steel" into the modern age

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A 2008 National Leadership
Demonstration Grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS) will enable Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to digitally preserve more
than 400,000 pages of historic materials related to the iron and steel
industry and make them available to the public. The $600,000 grant, awarded
today by IMLS director Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, will finance "The Legacy of
Iron and Steel" project."
Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie's industrial legacy is
found in the thousands of museums, universities and libraries he established,"
said Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh President and Director Dr. Barbara K.
Mistick. "Pittsburgh's iron and steel industry was a key factor in the
industrial revolution of the United States. As a public library it is our
responsibility to connect customers through technology and provide access to
our region's rich history."
With this grant, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will demonstrate how a
public library can use current technology to provide access to and excitement
about a historic collection. Currently the library owns a large collection of
historic books and other materials that document Pittsburgh's steel and iron
legacy. Dating as far back as the 1800s, nearly 20 percent of the collection
is too fragile to handle. By saving the materials in a digital format, the
library can make them accessible to local students as well as national
historians via computers and the Internet. A unique feature of the project
incorporates the use of social networking software that will enable customers
to comment upon and tell stories about the items. The software also has the
capability to connect customers with each other.
Dr. Radice praised the project's significance in preserving history and
making it accessible via current technologies. "Technology has great potential
for restoring and preserving historical records. Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh's project will be a benchmark in the utilization of computer
technology to access historic collections," Radice said. To qualify for a
national leadership demonstration grant, a project must preserve culture,
heritage and knowledge while enhancing learning. Recipients earn the grant
based on their ability to demonstrate innovation, collaboration and the
potential for far-reaching impact.
Chairman and CEO of U. S. Steel, John Surma, also stressed the
significance of making these materials accessible and creating a scholarly
learning community. "The Library's plan to make these records accessible
using modern, digital social networking tools is a great step in assuring that
our region's heritage is preserved and shared," said Surma. "The young people
of this community, and people around the globe, will have the ability to view
and read and interact with a tremendous part of the region's historic
documents."
About Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Building Communities, Enriching Lives
Established as a public trust in 1895, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
serves the citizens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County with a distinguished
history of leadership among the country's great public libraries. Through its
19 neighborhood locations, including Main Library and the Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is the
region's most visited asset. Each year the Library provides more than 8,000
free programs, classes and other learning and training opportunities that are
tailored to meet the dynamic and diverse needs of people living in Western
Pennsylvania.
About The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source
of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The
Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect
people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and
in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage,
culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support
professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit
http://www.imls.gov.
SOURCE Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Suzanne M. Thinnes of the Carnegie Library Of Pittsburgh, +1- 412-578-2458,
+1-412-983-9409