METRO provides funding to its member libraries to support digitization projects that preserve and expand access to important collections of historical and rare materials in New York City and Westchester. The eight projects funded for 2009 are as follows:

• The Jewish Theological Seminary: Funding to digitize the diary of a prominent Jewish theologian.
• The American Jewish Historical Society: Support for the digitization of the papers and documents of Judah Lyons, a founder of Mount Sinai Hospital.
• The Center for Jewish History: Funding to digitize collections from the Leo Baeck Institute and the American Jewish Historical Society, including the digitization of three-dimensional objects from the collection.
• The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Library, Smithsonian: Funding to digitize a monthly fashion/design magazine published from 1809-1828.
• The CUNY Graduate Center: Support for the digitization of 250 photographs, newspaper engravings, lithographs, and postcards.
• Manhattanville College: Funding to digitize source materials from the first Catholic women’s college to accept African American students.
• The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research: Support for the digitization of eight volumes of a Yiddish scholarly journal published by the YIVO Institute.
• Wagner College: Funding to digitize 165 letters relating to the Christian Socialist movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The applications were evaluated by a review team of representatives from METRO’s Digitization Advisory Council, Information Systems and Services Advisory Council, and nationally known digitization consultants. These grants are funded through state funds from the New York State Regional Bibliographic Databases Program and METRO’s operating funds.

For more information, contact Jason Kucsma, Emerging Technologies Manager, at (212) 228-2320 Ext 23 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .