NMRLS embarked on this cooperative project to initiate a northeast Massachusetts digital library. This initiative was intended to create a central access point for digital library resources in the region. In order to promote cooperation, local partner representatives from MVLC, NOBLE, and Nelinet were invited to join the Digital Library Committee.

The Digital Library Initiative's (DLI) goals were derived from expressed needs in a member survey, i.e.,

• Training and technical assistance for library staff in issues related to digitization and copyright
• Establishing digital library standards and best practices
• Creation of a central digital library web site
• Offering scanning and image editing facilities to the membership

The Digital Library Initiative is a direct result of the enthusiasm generated during our a grant supported digitization pilot project in FY2002 supported by the Essex National Heritage Commission. The online exhibit and project description resulting from that project are available at: http://www.nmrls.org/enha/exhibit/.  NMRLS next step was to explore and expand the following:

• Provide member access to the scanning/editing lab.
• Expand training opportunities within the region.
• Work with our local partners to recommend standards and best practices
• Initiate a central web site for the digital library.
• Identify and seek grant opportunities to benefit member libraries.

To accomplish this, NMRLS received an additional grants from the Essex National Heritage Commission and from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners through a federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act).  This effort resulted in 4,000 online images on our Imagining History Collections website.