How to Participate

How to Participate in the Ohio Memory Project

You can participate in Ohio Memory in the following ways:

INDIVIDUALS

Volunteer.

We need your help! Volunteers are needed to digitize collections, create descriptions, transcribe documents, and perform quality control. For more information about volunteering with the project, contact Annamae Kacsandi at akacsandi@ohiohistory.org.

Donate.

Monetary contributions to Ohio Memory will be used to continue digitization of collections. Your support helps us to continue to discover, share and preserve Ohio’s history.
The button below will connect you to our easy online donation page where you can make a secure online contribution at the Ohio History Store. You will be given the opportunity to designate your gift to a specific program area or to the Society’s greatest need. You may also make your gift in honor or in memory of someone special and we will notify anyone you specify of your tribute.  More information about donating to the project.

Contribute.

Members of the public are also invited to contribute digital images to Ohio Memory. Due to funding reductions, however, there is a fee for digitizing materials and making them available online.* Individuals must hold all rights to images contributed to the project and must be willing to allow the Ohio Historical Society to use the images for its activities. Please note that digital images contributed to Ohio Memory do not become part of the permanent collections of the Ohio Historical Society and are for access use only.

*unless you participate via the Ohio History Service Corps’ Ohio Memory Community Collection project (follow link for more information and guidelines).

Share.

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CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTIONS

All cultural heritage repositories that hold materials related to Ohio history and make them available to the public are invited to submit collections for inclusion in the Ohio Memory. Submitting institutions do not need to have digitization capabilities to participate, although additional costs for digitization will apply. The submission process has three steps, which are outlined below.

Step One: Project Planning and Pricing

1. Select items/collections for digitization
   • Participants are strongly encouraged to call or e-mail project staff for advice or to discuss plans for digitization projects. Call (614) 297-2578 or e-mail ohiomemory@ohiohistory.org.
   • Review recommended selection criteria for digitization projects. (See below)
2. Determine your project plan and costs. Due to grant funding, Ohio Memory was able to provide services at no charge from 2000-2005. Since 2006, Ohio Memory is operating on a cost-recovery model. Pricing is based on:
   • Subscription Pricing. Libraries, historical societies and museums are invited to utilize the Society’s digitization tools, including CONTENTdm software, for a yearly subscription fee.
   • Digitization and Imaging Services. The Ohio Historical Society offers a variety of services for digitizing many materials, including over-sized materials, bound volumes and glass plate negatives.
   • Metadata/OCR Services. For institutions who prefer to outsource the metadata creation for digital images, Ohio Memory offers metadata services for an additional charge. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for printed materials is also available.
   • Custom Web Development. For an additional fee, Ohio Memory staff will design a custom interface for your digital library. Materials will still be available via Ohio Memory, but institutions may wish to have a digital library that is integrated into their current Web site.
   • Newspaper Projects. The Ohio Historical Society can digitize newspaper microfilm and make it available on Ohio Memory. Please call (614) 297-2578 or e-mail ohiomemory@ohiohistory.org.
3. Contact Jillian Carney, Manager of Digital Services, for detailed pricing information or for more information. Contact information: jcarney@ohiohistory.org     Phone: (614) 297-2578.

Step Two: Digitization, Description and Online Access

1. Sign and return contract and use agreement
   • A Memo of Understanding outlining the pricing and hosting terms will be sent upon receipt of a signed project quote.
   • Participating institutions have the option to register for Ohio Memory’s Reproduction Services Program, which provides OHS permissions to fill orders for print and publication orders. 40% of sales are returned to the owning institution.
2. Complete transcripts and/or translations for accepted collections
   • To increase user access, Ohio Memory prefers to have transcripts for handwritten or difficult-to-read text or languages other than English.
   • Carefully review transcript specifications if applicable
3. Arrange for digitization and CONTENTdm installation
   • Once materials are accepted, project staff will contact you to discuss digitization and provide your staff with CONTENTdm software.
   • Carefully review digitization specifications before you begin scanning materials. The person who is digitizing the materials is encouraged to contact project staff before beginning digitization.
   • Participating institutions are strongly encouraged to participate in a digitization workshop before embarking on a project. Contact Ohio Memory staff for information on upcoming workshops.

Step Three: Publication in Ohio Memory

1. Review collections online
   • Submitting institution will be notified when items/collections are online and asked to review entries for factual and typographical errors.
2. Publicize your entry in the Online Scrapbook
   • Customizable press releases are available on the project site to assist with publicity.