Mam’k Library Preserving 430 Volumes of The Daily Times
Donations Sought to Help Digitize Only Copies of the Local Paper
by Susan Benton, Director of the Mamaroneck Public Library; photos by Lori Friedli
(November 20, 2008) For decades, anyone wanting to read old local newspapers had to trek to the Mamaroneck Public Library to leaf through the only bound copies available of The Daily Times from 1936 to 1979. Soon, the public will be able to use a computer – at the library or at home – to browse through digitally preserved versions of the newspaper that served as the number one source of local and national news for the Sound Shore.
In danger of being lost forever to effects of age, the 430 volumes, weighing approximately 18 pounds each, were loaded into a truck and sent off for digital preservation. A color digital version will be created so the public may search for names and keywords in the historical Daily Times issues. The database will be available from the library’s homepage.
The Daily Times is the only place to look for most local obituaries, birth announcements, and community events that occurred in the mid-20th century. In the library, there has been a request for a Daily Times article every week and the librarians carried the heavy volumes to the patrons. Among the popular requests has always been the question: “What happened on my birthday?” This is an annual assignment for elementary school children.
Once the digitization is complete, a patron will be able to search a keyword - such as "oil" - to find a relevant page of the Daily Times, such as the one above. |
Once people realize the newspaper is available, they often ask to see it again out of curiosity. In 1961, you can find ads like “Iceberg lettuce 19¢” or “3 Bedroom Colonial Houses from $19,290 and up” along with front page news articles like “Berlin Negotiations to Follow Gromyko Talks with Kennedy” and local news such as “Library Dedicates New Reference Desk.” The cost for digitizing the newspapers will be $87,745. The Mamaroneck Public Library’s initial payment of $12,000 got the project started. A $10,000 grant from the Larchmont Gazette paid for an additional portion. "Much of the Daily News information is just not available anywhere else," said Judy Silberstein, co-publisher along with Paula Eisenberg of the Larchmont Gazette. "Seeing the old volumes crumble has been heart-breaking - we are so grateful that the Mamaroneck Library is preserving this community treasure." The Mamaroneck Historical Society’s president, Donald March, noted the importance of the project in the organization’s recent newsletter and is requesting donations to preserve The Daily Times. |
Paula Eisenberg and Judy Silberstein, publishers of the Larchmont Gazette,
delivered a symbolic $10,000 check to Mamaroneck Library Director Susan
Benton to support the digitization project.
Want to Help?
Checks may be mailed to: Mamaroneck Historical Society; P.O. Box 776; Mamaroneck, NY 10543
or Mamaroneck Public Library, 136 Prospect
Avenue; Mamaroneck, NY 10543. (Please note Daily Times in your check note.)