Federal grant to aid UM’s Fogler Library

WASHINGTON – The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded a $344,270 grant to the University of Maine’s Fogler Library in Orono to support a two-year project titled “The Maine Music Box.” This project is a partnership among the University of Maine, the Bagaduce Music Lending Library and the Bangor Public Library. Through this collaborative effort, an interactive, multimedia digital music library will be designed and implemented. It will be linked to statewide public school music curriculum standards. The library will consist of images of musical scores with associated sound renditions, cover art and lyrics. It will also enable users to view, play and print scores, and manipulate music by changing the key and instrumentation.

The institute also has awarded a grant of $441,050 to the Maine Historical Society in Portland to further develop its Maine Memory Network. The initiative is creating a statewide digital museum that will enable historical societies, museums, libraries and other cultural institutions to upload and manage digital copies of artifacts, images and documents from their collections and establish one centralized, Web-accessible database. This network of cultural resources will provide educators, students and the general public with unprecedented access to historical collections. Grant funds will help to develop the interpretive features and exhibits, and K-12 resources.

“Through this generous funding, the people of Maine – especially students in grades K-12 – will have broader and more convenient access to historical records, rare artifacts, and a world of musical composition,” said U.S. Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen in announcing the awards.