Pella Community Memory Database

Pella Public Library is pleased to provide you with this free monthly newsletter keeping you informed on the progress being made on the Pella Community Memory Database (PCMD), a new grant-funded project sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). We hope you will find this newsletter informative!

Dear Friends,

I truly can't believe it! September is here already, and it marks the start of the second year of the grant cycle for the Pella Community Memory Database project! One year ago, this project was a dream on paper that was just beginning to be realized. Now we have a well-rounded database with thousands of images and documents, a professional logo, web address, and more. One year ago it was my dream to make the history of Pella accessible to everyone by moving it online, and now those goals are beginning to be realized.

I am incredibly excited to share Pella's past with all of you, and I am grateful for your support over the past year. I believe the Pella Community Memory Database has a very bright future, and I'm thrilled to continue work on this project, which I truly believe will become an invaluable asset to the Pella community. Sic itur ad astra.

Sincerely,

Chris Brown

Assistant Library Director, Pella Public Library

Project Director, Pella Community Memory Database

We're very pleased to introduce Jo Ann Ready, our new Library Digitization Assistant! She is taking over the process of digitization during year two of the grant. Jo Ann comes to us from Indian Hills Community College, where she worked in the IT department. We're glad to have her on board!

Initially, volunteerism was going to be a large component of the PCMD project. We had lined up volunteers to scan, transcribe, translate, identify, and more.

COVID-19 has obviously thrown everything for a loop. We at the PCMD recognize that COVID-19 has caused major changes in the way we work, play, and interact with one another. Each individual or family has to make the decisions that are right for them at this time.

Due to this, we have not pushed the volunteer component of this project. If you would like to help, either in-person or from the comfort of your home, we would love to have your assistance. However, we also understand if you considered being a volunteer but are no longer able to do so because of various life changes.

If you previously signed up to be a volunteer and would like to re-start that process or get a new assignment, please feel free to reach out to Chris Brown, Project Director, at cbrown@cityofpella.com.

To become a volunteer with the Pella Community Memory Database, please visit:

https://ia-pella2.civicplus.com/492/PCMD-Volunteers

Thank you for your consideration as a volunteer. Together we will get through this time and come out stronger on the other side.

Just a reminder, you can get weekly statistics on the progress of the Pella Community Memory Database Project at our Current Project Status page As of last Monday, we have scanned 1,317 of 5500 documents that we intend to scan over the course of the next year. Google Analytics is reporting great increases in the usage of the PCMD, with views since the beginning of the project now topping 10,000, with 2,300 of those in the last month alone! Keep an eye out for even more eye-popping statistics!

This is a collage of photos of Henry G. Cox's C.R.I. & P. RY. Band (Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Band). These are small 1" individual portrait photos of 34 members in uniform. Each photo has the name of the band member and the instrument he played. This document is now a part of the Pella Community Memory Database. View it here.

This newsletter is published monthly with funding from an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant.

For more information, please contact:

Chris Brown

Project Director

Pella Public Library

603 Main Street

Pella, IA 50219

641-628-4268

cbrown@cityofpella.com