TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to report back in 90 days on a timeline and costs associated with the following:
1. Hiring a consultant to assess and review the newspaper and magazine collection for preservation:
a. Digitization priorities;
b. Cost of preservation;
c. Compatibility of digitization with City and Library websites;
d. Assessment of most efficient way to implement digitization/preservation;
e. Resolving copyright issues;
2. Identifying potential funding sources for digitization of documents; and
3. Digitization schedule.
DISCUSSION
A recent assessment by the California Preservation project indicates there is a considerable asset value in the Long Beach History Collection (newspaper and magazine publications) at the City's Main Public Library. If this collection were to be lost the cost to provide access to information of equivalent scope and depth would be daunting, if not prohibitive leaving the City and region without its history and making the Long Beach Public Library a less attractive institution for historical research.
As recently as six months ago, our City's history had been compromised due to the lack of access to primary source materials such as newspapers. For example, misinformation on the first airplane crossing to Catalina, and the history of the name Burnett for the elementary school and library. Losing primary sources, such as our newspapers, unique recordings, scrapbooks, essays, and more means we lose access to our City's heritage.
FISCAL IMPACT
This is no significant cost associated with this report.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILWOMAN SUZIE PRICE
THIRD DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER DARYL SUPERNAW
FOURTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMAN DEE ANDREWS
SIXTH DISTRICT