On July 21, 2018 at SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial Library branch library, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) will be collecting, cataloging, and preserving the collective memories of Somerset County residents.
Utilizing a suite of digitization equipment including seven high resolution scanners, a lightbox, a digital single-lens reflex camera, and more; as well as the expertise of SCLSNJ’s archival and historical librarians, the Library will be providing residents the opportunity to both preserve and learn about their own history and that of their neighbors.
“Our digitization days will allow our patrons to preserve their memories for future generations of family, friends, and community neighbors,” said grant coordinator and technical services manager Rebecca Sandoval Sloat.
Somerset County residents should bring no more than five items to each digitization session, including:
- Historic photographs, letters, or documents;
- Sketches, paintings, or other artwork;
- Family heirlooms including recipes;
- Jewelry or decorative arts;
- Textiles such as quilts, samplers, flags, or uniforms;
- Antique toys;
- And, other artifacts.
If a resident has a more robust collection of historical items that they wish to digitize, that patron should make a one-on-one appointment with the library by emailing CommonHeritage@sclibnj.org. If a patron wishes to share an oral history of a historic and/or life event, short recorded interviews can be arranged.
SCLSNJ will make these collective memories available for research and use for future generations by contributing digitized items to Rutgers University’s New Jersey Digital Highway, by making them available in our library’s online catalog, and by submitting them to the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).
The following community organizations will be partnering with SCLSNJ through the course of this 18-month project: The Board of Chosen Freeholders, Somerset County; The Courier News/MyCentralJersey.com; the Franklin Township Public Library; the New Jersey Council for the Humanities; and Somerset County Historical Society
The Somerset County Library System of New Jersey Common Heritage initiative has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these Library programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
