Friends of Malvern/HSC Public Library receives $13K genealogy grant

MALVERN — The Friends of the Malvern/HSC Public Library says it has received a grant from the Sturgis Trust for equipment needed in the library’s genealogy and local history collections.

The $13,270 grant will allow the Friends group to purchase a ScanPro microfilm reader/scanner, which can make digital copies from a variety of micro-formats, including microfilm of various sizes, microfiche, and others, a news release said.

Clif Crawford, Friends of the Library president, said in the release that the library’s genealogy and local history holdings are “a wonderful treasure for those interested in preserving and sharing our local heritage.”

The library has a number of micro collections in its holdings.

The library’s local history and genealogy department, which is housed in the Jesse Ashford Genealogy Annex facing Ash Street next door to the library, contains a “sizable genealogy collection, books and magazines dealing with Arkansas, as well as photograph and manuscript collections,”

according to the release.

The Sturgis Trust grant will enable the library to purchase additional shelving to house the annex’s growing collection along with acid-free archival supplies. The grant will also fund a digital audio recorder for use in collecting oral histories. The equipment from the Sturgis grant will be located in the annex, improving genealogical and historical research capabilities for the public.

The Friends group is a tax-exempt organization with the mission of providing financial assistance, advocating for the Library, encouraging gifts, increasing community awareness, and providing volunteer services.

Visit https://www.hsclibrary.arkansas.gov/about-us/friends-of-the-library for more information.