Digitization Grants

In response to feedback from the METRO member community, METRO’s 2012/2013 digitization grant program will be dedicated to supporting collaborative digitization projects. The purpose of the funding is to facilitate the collaboration between two or more institutions converting regionally significant non-digital materials to digital format thereby enhancing the availability of the information resources to METRO members. Additionally, this program will also assist members in preparing for future larger-scale collaborative digitization projects. 

 

 

To facilitate the creation of digital materials relating to the history and culture of New York City and Westchester County and thereby enhance the quality of the region’s library information resources. However, significant materials held by METRO member institutions but not primarily relating to the history and culture of New York City and Westchester County are also eligible for funding.

 

METRO member institutions located in New York City and Westchester County are eligible to apply.

 

Key Numbers

• Approximately $70,000 will be allocated by METRO through the New York State Regional Bibliographic Databases Program (RBDB). NOTE: Due to a decrease in New York state funds for the Regional Bibliographic Database program, this year METRO will not support grants for Retrospective Conversion. Instead, all available funds will be distributed for digitization projects. 
• Collaborating institutions may apply for one grant (up to $25,000) to offset the technical and personnel costs associated with collaborative digitization projects. Approved uses for funds include hardware, software, outsource services, consulting services, staffing, training, web design, project evaluation, and promotion.

The following should be considered when selecting collections:

• useful and accurate content
• rarity and uniqueness
• potential for enduring value in digital form
• beneficial to New Yorkers

The following should be considered when selecting materials within collections:

• materials which highlight collections
• materials that best represent the community
• materials that are most requested by patrons
• materials that are difficult to access in physical form
• materials that are cataloged or collections that are processed

In previous years evaluators looked favorably on materials that served a broader audience:

• CUNY Graduate Center, Digital Murray Hill
• Brooklyn College: Brooklyn Democratic Party Scrapbooks
• Lehman College: The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Collection
• Brooklyn Public Library: Fulton Street Trade Card Collection

In previous years evaluators looked less favorably on materials that were institution centric:

• Meeting minutes
• Yearbooks
• School newspapers
• Campus buildings

How will applications be evaluated?

METRO will determine whether an application is eligible and complete. METRO may contact applicants for additional information about their applications. Ineligible and incomplete applications will be rejected without evaluation.

All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated by a panel composed of members of relevant METRO Advisory Committees, experts from the field, and METRO staff. METRO will make final funding decisions based on the evaluations by reviewers.

Examples of previously funded projects are available here. 

What about Retrospective Conversion?

Please email METRO's Digital Services Manager, Anne Karle-Zenith, or call 212.228.2320 x112 if you have any questions.