The Friends of the Palm Springs Library is celebrating American Archives Month (October) after receiving a $25,000 grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. The funds will reboot the Palm Springs Public Library’s “Accessing the Past” archiving project by purchasing necessary equipment and supplies.
“This generous grant is exactly what we needed to reinvigorate the archiving project and ensure the preservation of more invaluable local historical resources,” said Jeannie Kays, Director of the Palm Springs Public Library, in gratitude of the Berger Foundation funding and the support of The Friends of the Palm Springs Library.
The grant will purchase new computers, additional backup hard drives, archival storage boxes for physical items, and outreach and educational tools for public engagement. A collaborative effort with the Palm Springs Public Library, the “Accessing the Past” project is one of the nonprofit’s most ambitious initiatives. Started in 2013, the archiving project aims to digitize and preserve local historical resources important to the Coachella Valley.
“By preserving the past, The Friends of the Palm Springs Library will enrich the future of the community and beyond for many generations to come,” said Catharine Reed, Vice President of Charitable Programs for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.
The grant came at an opportune time, as the City of Palm Springs recently approved funds to hire a new librarian archivist, making it possible to combine expertise and resources for a more comprehensive and sustainable archival project. Staff and volunteers are digitizing historical newspapers, yearbooks, and telephone directories, making them accessible to anyone worldwide.
“This project is very specific, so it will be fascinating to see the results of archiving the many wonderful materials that are under the library’s care,” said Jerry Upham, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company, which owns and operates KESQ News Channel 3 and KPSP CBS Local 2.
This project aligns with the mission of The Friends of the Palm Springs Library, Inc., which has been an advocate for the Palm Springs Public Library since its founding in 1971. The “Friends” aim to ensure that the library can provide world-class services to the community and serve as the vital link between the library, the community, and elected officials, tirelessly raising funds and promoting programs that encourage reading, culture, the arts, and volunteer-based activities.
The Friends of the Palm Springs Library and the “Accessing the Past” archiving project were featured on News Channel 3’s “Eye on the Desert,” in public service announcements and on kesq.com throughout the month of October. To learn more about the Palm Springs Public Library, the “Friends” nonprofit organization and the archive project visit www.friendsofthepalmspringslibrary.org. The Palm Springs Public Library is located at 300 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs.
