Your Name and Title: Michelle Skinner, MLIS
Library, School, or Organization Name: Chickasha Public Library
Co-Presenter Name(s): None
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Oklahoma, USA
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Everyone
Short Session Description (one line): Preserving and sharing local history through digitization
Full Session Description (as long as you would like): The proposed presentation discusses some of the ways in which local history of being preserved and shared by the Chickasha Public Library in Oklahoma. The library is currently digitizing microfilm newspaper records from 1923-2018 through an Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant, along with a contribution from the Friends of the Library. These records will then be hosted on the Gateway to Oklahoma History, which will then allow anyone with Internet access to search for specific records, such as a family obituary or an article about a certain event, or to simply browse through historic newspapers. Some of the yearbooks from schools in Chickasha and throughout Grady County, Oklahoma in the library’s collection have also been digitized as part of Images of Oklahoma. Digitization and online availability has removed several barriers to access for many local history records. WIth COVID, it has become even more important to be able to share this information while maintaining public safety. Additionally, digitization has helped to preserve primary source information for the future and to share that information with the widest possible audience.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session: https://gateway.okhistory.org, https://digitalprairie.ok.gov/digital/collection/p16807coll1/search
Replies