Godfrey Memorial Library is a non-profit organization that promotes the study of family history. Library operating funds come primarily from Godfrey Scholar subscriptions. This online subscription allows patrons across the country and around the world to research their family ancestry from home using their personal computers. The library itself is free to use and open to the public six days a week. There is no charge to use the library in person.
Since launching an effort to digitize library holdings in early 2007 we have been the fortunate recipients of loaned materials from other libraries, churches and historical societies. We create digital image files to ensure the preservation of the material, display those materials on our website and return the originals with a copy.
Digitizing your records clearly makes sense when considering how much easier it is to access an image on a computer compared to locating and retrieving hard copy. Books on computer are easier to locate, to view to make copies and to store. The number of times a book must be physically handled is limited when an electronic copy is available as an alternative.
Climate control can be difficult to achieve and maintain in older buildings. Light, temperature and humidity will cause damage to aging books and other materials. Fading, old, and crumbling are the common results.
Lack of shelf storage space can also lead to bending and warping as well as wear on book spines and covers. Eventually these conditions will shorten the life of a book and break it down.
Godfrey Library has the long term goal of digitizing all of its aging materials, both to save the contents electronically and to make them available to our patrons on our website. With over 30,000 items we may never finish. But since we have many very old, rare and one of a kind items, it is worth the effort.
Godfrey Library uses state of the art digital imaging hareware and software to create the clearest possible image. Two powerful digital cameras provide sharp images without page curvature. There is no need to flatten pages as with a conventional scanner and a gliding cradle allows for proper camera angle without putting pressure on delicate bindings.
The electronic future is really the present. We are digitizing our own holdings to save them for the future and we welcome the opportunity to help you save yours as well.
