Springfield-Greene County Library secures $56K history grant

The Springfield-Greene County Library was selected for a $56,250 federal grant.

Funded by the Library Services and Technology Act through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, the grant will be used to digitize historical Ozarks photos, said, Brian Grubbs, local history and genealogy department manager for the Queen City library district.

Specifically, the grant allows the library to partner for a second year with the Springfield News-Leader. During the first round, the library worked to digitize photos from the late 1940s through the early 1950s. Now, the library will digitize 23,000 photographs over the next year from the News-Leader’s archives depicting Ozarks life from 1950 through 1989.

“They document daily life on a daily basis throughout the entire area,” said Grubbs, noting the project would become available for public viewing. “We’ve worked pretty diligently with various institutions to document and help provide enhanced access to collections of significant Ozarks history and culture.”

The grant was funneled through the Missouri State Library with assistance by Attorney General Jay Ashcroft’s office.

“Libraries are an integral part of our communities, providing Missourians an opportunity to learn and grow through the wealth of knowledge and services they offer,” Ashcroft said in a news release. “Grants like the one Springfield-Greene County Library received are important to ensuring our libraries have the resources they need to provide the best services and programs to their patrons.”

In fiscal 2017, the Missouri State Library approved 155 grant applications totaling $1.5 million.

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