Historical Society Digitizes Collection With State Grant
The Bloomington Historical Society is ahead of schedule in digitizing its collection through a one-year grant from the Minnesota Arts and Heritage Fund, officials reported to the city council Wednesday.
The society received the grant through the Minnesota Historical Society in October to purchase software that catalogs items and makes them accessible through Minnesota Collections online. The grant allows the organization to display artifacts alongside other Minnesota museums for public viewing.
Jean, a society volunteer, said the organization has entered 866 items toward its goal of 1,000 items by October. The digital system represents a significant upgrade from the society's previous handwritten inventory system, allowing staff to know the location and details of every item in the collection.
The society currently is working on artifacts from Bloomington's police and fire departments. Each item is photographed and entered into the collective access database with detailed information. The digitization effort aims to share the community's stories beyond the museum's physical walls, as thousands of items remain in storage due to space limitations.
The Old Town Hall Museum operates entirely on volunteers and donations, offering free admission Wednesday through Thursday and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m., with extended Thursday hours until 8 p.m. The society's digitized collection can be accessed through a link on its website to the Minnesota Collections online database.
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Other Topics from This Document
Implementation of a new digital database for museum collections
Grant funding from the Minnesota Arts and Heritage Fund
Digitization of Bloomington police and fire department artifacts
Museum accessibility and community outreach initiatives
Old Town Hall Museum operations and volunteer-based funding model
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