The Collections & Access grant supports member projects that improve access to collections. Projects must make collections more accessible and freely available to end users, preferably through one of the ongoing statewide projects. Projects that highlight underrepresented voices receive priority consideration.
The Rochester Regional Library Council invites member organizations to submit Preliminary Proposals for our Collections & Access Grant. Of those Preliminary Proposals submitted, RRLC will invite a subset to submit a Full Proposal.
ELIGIBILITY
Membership: All applicants must be dues paying members of RRLC. See our website for a list of member libraries. NOTE: Individual school and public libraries, while not dues paying members of RRLC, may have their system apply on their behalf. A system may submit more than one project. You must be authorized by your organization to submit this proposal on behalf of your organization.
FUNDABLE PROJECTS
The Collections & Access grant supports member projects that improve access to collections. Projects must make collections more accessible and freely available to end users, preferably through one of the ongoing statewide projects. Projects that preserve and share the cultural history of marginalized communities will receive priority consideration.
Examples of projects may include:
- Digitizing analog collections to make available online through NY Heritage
- Digitizing and making newspaper collections available through NY State Historic Newspapers
- Improving access to existing online collections by updating metadata and descriptive elements
- Creating and making finding aids available through Empire Archival Discovery Cooperative
- Creating and adding 360-degree audiovisual content for Empire State Immersive Experiences
GRANT TIMELINE
October 18, 2024 – Preliminary Proposals due
November 1, 2024 – Selected applicants invited to submit Full Proposal
December 2, 2024 – Last day to ask questions about grant proposals
December 9, 2024 – Full Proposals due
January 16, 2025 – Board of Trustees makes final award selections
January 22, 2025 – Grant awardees notified
January 31, 2025 – Grant acceptance letters due; award payments sent
July 31, 2025 – Mid-year progress reports due
January 2026 – Project completion; final reports due
IMPORTANT: You must fully review the RFP before submitting the Preliminary Proposal. Contact Ryan Hughes with questions.
The 2024 Collections & Access Grant winners are:
- Genesee Country Village & Museum (GCV&M) – Digitizing GCV&M’s Exhibits & Buildings with Matterport
This project will digitally capture one exhibit from the John L. Wehle Gallery titled Becoming Gendered; Garment as Gender Artifact and one building in the Historic Village to provide an immersive and accessible experience for visitors on GCV&M’s website. The intent is to preserve and share the cultural history of marginalized communities as well as offer new access to economically disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
- Livingston County Town Historian – Livingston County Newspaper Accessibility Project
This project will convert early Livingston County newspapers on microfilm to archival-quality digital images for preservation and improved access. In doing so, the project will help to ensure the preservation of and access to newspaper content relating to people, events, and experiences in small, rural communities in Livingston County.
- Perry Public Library – Complete the Perry Herald Archive: Digitizing and Re-digitizing 141 Years
This project seeks to move the existing Perry Herald digital collection to the Historical Newspapers website spanning 108 years, examining and re-digitizing papers that were in poor condition on microfilm. This will be accomplished by utilizing collections held by Perry Public Library, Wyoming County Historian and Town of Perry Historian, and digitizing the remaining portion of the 33 years that are not currently available freely online.