What is the Northeast Massachusetts Digital Library (NMDL)?
ébackThe Northeast Massachusetts Digital Library or "NMDL" is a project to enhance access to an ever-growing digital collection of items, located in or items related to northeast Massachusetts. We are defining northeast Massachusetts as the 54 towns within the service area of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).
Our initial efforts are on digitizing, indexing and/or linking to
digital items of regional historical interest that are housed in
libraries, museums, or historical societies located within the region.
We have worked with our partners, member libraries, museums, and historical societies to digitize, index, and post
items on the NMDL site. The collection size reached 4,000 indexed items in
November 2005.
We hope the digital library will continue to grow as librarians, library patrons, students, and others begin to find it meets educational and personal needs and suggest additional collections for digitization and indexing.
Funding for the project began with a matching grant from the Essex National Heritage Commission
(ENHC) and NMRLS' own state funding. We received an additional three-year matching grant from the ENHC to expand the collection.
Additionally, in 2003, NMRLS was awarded a two-year Federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to outsource processing of collections from eight member libraries. More funding is needed and we will be seeking grants and gifts to support project growth.
How can I help?
Our vision is to become a part of a future state-wide digital library for Massachusetts
that is currently in the planning stages. For more information on this
project go to:
http://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/
Where can I find the Massachusetts Digital Library?
éback While the Massachusetts Digital Library does not exist yet. Plans
are underway to put a site together. Please visit the Digital Commonwealth website for more information
on this project:
http://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/
What is the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS)?
éback NMRLS is a not-for-profit corporation governed by an Executive Board elected by representatives of our 342 member libraries.
NMRLS mission is to support academic, public, school, and special libraries with services that enable them to better serve their users, and to establish, encourage, and maintain cooperation among libraries in order to provide access to the widest possible range of resources and information for the people of northeast Massachusetts.
NMRLS vision is to grow and evolve as a community of member libraries and media centers which collaborates to provide timely access to information, materials, training, and expertise. NMRLS strengthens local library services to constituents through resource sharing, the regionalization of services and technology, member participation, leadership of expert staff, and experimental new programs.
In addition to NMDL, our services include delivery service of interlibrary loan items to member libraries, we provide access to online newspapers, magazines, and encyclopedias to our member libraries and to library patrons at home, we provide training and consulting services at no cost to member library staff members, and participation in a statewide summer reading program.
Who are the project partners?
éback We are grateful to the efforts of several organizations for their cooperation and contributions to this project.
How can I help?
éback Project partners and participants are welcome. If your institution has items appropriate for inclusion or links, please let us know, or if you would like to contribute your expertise. Please call 978-762-4433 or email info@nmrls.org to contact us.
Site sponsors are welcome and will be recognized on the site. If you or your organization would like to support this important project by becoming an annual sponsor or by making a one-time donation to NMRLS (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation), please contact:
Greg Pronevitz, Regional Administrator
978-762-4433 x15
greg@nmrls.org
or US Mail:
Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System
175 Andover Street, Suite 205
Danvers, MA 01923
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