Saving Memories

THIS PAGE IS FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES AND IS NO LONGER UPDATED.

PHOTO DIGITIZATION AND RESTORATION
FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY DISASTER

Central Illinois residents affected by disaster will have four opportunities to have photos, scrapbooks, and other flat mementos and documents digitally preserved, and in some cases, restored. Following family and pets, photos, scrapbooks, and mementos are often cherished above all else, especially as the memories they capture may be all that remain after a natural disaster. Digital copies can help in the preservation, restoration, and reproduction processes, especially before further decay occurs.

Operation Photo RescueCoordinated by Fondulac District Library of East Peoria through its “Saving Memories” project, three organizations – Washington District Library, Fondulac District Library, and Operation Photo Rescue – have collaborated to bring free digital preservation and restoration services to disaster victims from any central Illinois community.

Any central Illinois resident affected by the recent tornados and storms may attend at either location.

Using a copy stand and a digital camera, local volunteers will provide high quality, high resolution digital files of damaged photos, scrapbooks, and other paper or flat mementos to disaster victims from any central Illinois community at no charge. Digital files will be provided to the image owners on flash/USB drives that were donated to the project.

Additionally, volunteers will evaluate individual damaged photos for free digital restoration, Up to 20 photos per household may be electronically submitted to Operation Photo Rescue (OPR), a U.S. not-for-profit organization comprised of a worldwide network of volunteers, for restoration and printing. Restored photo prints will be mailed to owners at no cost.

To arrange an appointment for digitization services, please contact Genna Buhr, Public Services Manager, at genna@fondulaclibrary.org or 309-699-3917 x2181.

How You Can Help
For more information or to volunteer your digitizing or restoration services and equipment, please contact Genna Buhr, Public Services Manager, at genna@fondulaclibrary.org or 309-699-3917 x2181.

The library still would appreciate any donations of time, equipment, and services for the digitization portion of the project and any help you can provide in spreading the word to those who could benefit from the project.

The generosity of the communities with which we work – including the library and business communities – has been overwhelming and humbling. Fondulac District Library no longer needs flash/USB drives for the Saving Memories project. If you’d still like to contribute monetarily, please consider donating to Operation Photo Rescue for the restoration portion of the project.

More About Saving Memories

Press Release: LOCAL LIBRARIES AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATION PROVIDE PHOTO PRESERVATION SERVICES TO DISASTER VICTIMS
From Library Journal: Fondulac District Library, Operation Photo Rescue Partner to Save Community’s Storm Damaged Photos
From the Library of Congress: Illinois Library Offers Digital Preservation Aid in Response to Tornado Devastation
From CBS/WMBD 31: Operation Photo Rescue to Help Disaster Victims
From CBS/WMBD 31: Photo Digitization for Disaster Victims
From ABC/WQAD 8: Project restoring photos for those by Central Illinois tornados and storms