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Local News

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Libraries to put photos on the Web
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

By this time next year, people from Hancock County to China will be able to see exactly what students at Findlay High School looked like in 1907.

The images may not be in worldwide demand, but they may be important to those whose families stretch back generations in Findlay, and soon they will be available online to anyone who wants to see them, said Findlay-Hancock County Public Library Director Jeff Winkle.

Twelve libraries, including Findlay, Bluffton and Tiffin, will share a $39,000 grant from the State Library of Ohio in Columbus to scan yearbooks, photos, postcards, newsletters, pamphlets, atlases, slides, flyers and other historical documents as part of a library digitization project.

A $13,011 local match came from the participating libraries and the Northwest Regional Library System.

"This will be such a great historical tool," Winkle said Monday.

Much of the scanning will take place at the Findlay library, as the grant paid for a $13,000 book scanner the library gets to keep when the project is done. The book scanner will speed up what could be a lengthy scanning project.

Other libraries will bring their yearbooks to Findlay, where an employee paid from grant funds will spend about 10 months scanning.

Allan Gray, director of the Northwest Regional Library System, expects the project to be complete in about September.

There will be plenty to do: The library has a collection of 450 yearbooks from area high schools and colleges, starting with a Findlay High School Blue and Gold from 1907. Scanning those will take priority.

Most of the yearbooks are donations, Winkle said, and although they are available at the library, having them available online will make them easier to find and share with those who don't live nearby. He said the library is always accepting yearbook donations.

Winkle said he is hoping the library can partner with the Hancock County Historical Society to add more documents to the digital collection.

All of the libraries received regular scanners to use for smaller documents like photos and postcards.

Digital versions of the yearbooks and photos will be compiled on special library pages at Ohio Historical Society Web sites, including www.ohiomemory.org and www.ohiohistory.org.

They may also be available on the libraries' Web sites.

Gray said the idea to digitalize historical documents came from the libraries; they wanted a way to make their collections more easily accessible.

"The Ohio Historical Society is already doing this with the Ohio Memory Project," Gray said. "That has been ongoing for some time."

Reiter: 419-427-8497,

Send an e-mail to Michelle Reiter


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1 Comment

Brian Whitta wrote:
Grant money
“ This is just another reason why Findlay has reason to be proud of the public library! Kudos to Director Winkle! ”
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Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.


Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.


Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.


Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.


Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.