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G2S Project Code: 2021-IN-87028
State: Indiana
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
KOKOMO-HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Amy Russell
Director Phone: 765-626-0838
Director Email: arussell@khcpl.org
General Information
Title: African-American Notables in Howard County
State Project Code: D21-1-1(5)
Start Date: 08/01/2021
End Date: 04/30/2022
Abstract: Kokomo-Howard County Public Library worked with the Howard County Historical Society and Embracing Hope of Howard County (a non-profit with the primary goal of renovating the historic, all-Black Douglass School), as well as leaders in the African-American community to collect, identify, and digitize items focused on local African-American history. These documents provide insight into the struggles and successes of Black residents in this county with strong historical ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Making them available as part of the Howard County Memory Project (and larger Indiana Memory) allows immediate internet access to this one-of-a-kind collection, while supplementing existing local history with materials that have been historically overlooked. On multiple occasions, library staff took equipment to a community activity center to scan relevant documents and photos than had been uncovered during the course of the project, and gather oral interviews. Ninety items were added during the project, including documents, photos, and oral interviews, and an interactive map of historic locations. 
State Goal: Information Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$9,391.58
$0.00
$4,968.00
$14,359.58
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
History
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Digitization of Materials on African-American History in Kokomo
Narrative: 90 items were added to the African-American Notables digital collection on the Howard County Memory Project website. Many newspaper articles and photos were scanned on a flatbed scanner, while other documents were taken directly from electronic files. 15 videos were made of community members talking about their memories of growing up in Kokomo, Indiana. These videos were recorded via Zoom and transferred to the website, and the accompanying audio was run through a transcription service to provide written word, as well. A historic map was found and used to pinpoint important locations in the community.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 90
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 90
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: KOKOMO-HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 220 NORTH UNION STREET
City: KOKOMO
State: IN
Zip: 46901
Activity Details
Title: Presentations on the African-American Notables Project.
Narrative: The library took advantage of a number of opportunities to discuss the African-American Notables project with members of the local community (particularly the local African-American community) and the extended library community.

  • The library hosted a Zoom meeting in January for several members of the local African-American community to show them the project's progression. 1 hour, 10 attendees.
  • Project director gives 20 minute presentation to Kiwanis in March about the Howard County Memory Project, with an emphasis on the recent grant/African-American Notables database. 22 attendees.
  • In March, the library participated in an Indiana State Library webinar titled, "Come As You Are: Getting Started With EDI Committees in Your Library." The segment discussed the African-American Notables project and how the library was working on it with support of the African-American community. 1 hour, 47 attendees.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 45
Number of presentations/performances administered: 3
Average number in attendance per session: 26


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: 18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: KOKOMO-HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 220 NORTH UNION STREET
City: KOKOMO
State: IN
Zip: 46901
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
It was the work of a grant employee that led to an expansion of formats within the project. While familiarizing himself with the functions CONTENTdm, the employee discovered available features -including options for multimedia - that he felt could add depth to the collection. A scrapbook of newspaper clippings found in a storage room prompted the oral histories, as each spontaneous interview was a reminiscence based on a clipping. While not a part of the original digitization plan, the videos and map have added an interactive feature to the project that the library feels encourages user engagement. By working with both the Howard County Historical Society and Embracing Hope of Howard County, the library expanded the resources available for the project, made the community as a whole more aware of their work, and built valuable partnerships.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Make use of networking and resources as soon as possible! As part of his quest to best learn CONTENTdm, the employee contacted the Supervisor of Digitization Services at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library; the supervisor was a heavy CONTENTdm user and open to exchanging ideas for best practices and lessons. The networking was extremely beneficial for staff, and the project director feels it could have only been more useful if they had met with their contact even earlier in the project.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeWhile it's commendable that KHCPL was determined to highlight the often difficult history of African-Americans in Howard County, it was their efforts at partnering with and getting buy-in from the local African-American community that took this project to the next level.
Project Tags: digitization, history, African-American history