Library of Virginia Receives Mellon Grant

[Elizabeth Roderick]

     The Library of Virginia has been awarded a grant
of $270,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a digital
initiative that will make the records of  the Virginia Historical
Inventory (VHI) accessible to the public on the Internet. By 2000,
researchers who currently have to visit the Library in person to
use this valuable resource will be able to search the VHI
collection from their homes and offices anywhere in the world.

     The Virginia Historical Inventory, part of the 1930s Works
Progress Administration (WPA) Virginia Writers' Project, is an
incomparable collection of photographs, maps and detailed reports
documenting the architectural, cultural and family histories of
thousands of 18th- and 19th-century buildings in communities across
Virginia, many of which do not survive today. Workers for the
Virginia Historical Inventory  photographed and assessed early
structures creating a pictorial and textual prism through which
architects, economists, social historians, journalists, researchers
and the general public can study a unique record of  Virginia's
past.

     Work on this digital initiative, which will be incorporated
into the Library's ongoing Digital Library Project, will begin
December 1 and last for approximately two years. While the primary
objective is to increase the public's access to this rare
collection, the Mellon Grant will allow the Library to create a
model for comparing the costs of storing and assessing the
collection in both traditional media and digital format. The
Library will evaluate the use and acceptability of digital and
printed versions of the VHI reports and will test the long-term
economic viability of maintaining and serving these digital
collections. The findings of this evaluation will be shared with
other organizations  contemplating digitization of collections.
     
     The Library of Virginia, located in downtown Richmond,
Virginia, has served the archival and research needs of Virginians
since 1823. Established as the reference and research library at
the seat of government, it holds Virginia's official records from
1607 through the present day. It serves as the official repository
for state and local government records. 

     The Library's Digital Library Project (http://leo.vsla.edu),
started in 1995, now includes more than 2 million digital images
and more than 70 electronic finding aids and catalogs. The Library
also sponsors the Virginia Library and Information Network (VLIN),
providing Internet access and services to more than 570 public,
special, institution and state agency libraries. For more
information on the VHI Project, contact Elizabeth Roderick, project
director, at 804/692-3761 or eroderic at leo.vsla.edu.
     
-- 
Elizabeth Roderick                              email (eroderic at leo.vsla.edu)
Assistant Director, Library Development         voice (804) 692-3761
  and Networking Division                       fax   (804) 692-3771
The Library of Virginia                         
800 E. Broad Street                                      
Richmond, VA  23219

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                        http://leo.vsla.edu
                  The LVA Digital Library Project
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