October 2023 – Advantage Archives uploaded 1.6 million images to different Community History Archives, providing FREE digital access to local history!
Enriching Your Archive with Yearbooks for Research and Genealogy
The Benefits of Digitizing Yearbooks Yearbooks are a window into the past of your community. More than any other material, they offer a snapshot of what life was like at a particular time or moment, on a local level. They open the door to a familiar past for individuals diving into genealogical research, or just […]
This Day in History: Norway Tigers’ Triumphant Finale – The Real Story Behind “The Final Season”
Norway, a small town in Iowa, was renowned for baseball. Since the early 20th century, baseball was woven into the town’s identity. It was more than just a sport; it was a community bonding activity, a source of pride and joy. The local high school team, the Norway Tigers, started making headlines in The Cedar […]
The Digital Revolution: Why Digitizing Microfilm Beats Microfilm Readers
While microfilm preservation undoubtedly remains the preeminent method for safeguarding paper-based media, the essentiality of digitization for accessibility cannot be understated. The Community History Archives champions this cause, delivering unencumbered digital access for the end-user and incurring no recurrent financial obligations for the institutions. “While microfilm undeniably retains its prestige as an unparalleled medium for […]
History For All: Cultivating Community Engagement With Free Access to Local History
As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the digital age, libraries nationwide have turned to Advantage Archives to digitize their local community’s historical newspaper archives. These incredible resources are accessible to anyone free of charge thanks to meaningful partnerships between Advantage and community libraries nationwide. These free online archives offer an unparalleled tool for deepening […]
Launching a Community History Podcast Powered By Your Library’s Archives
Podcasting has taken the world by storm, with diverse voices and stories filling the digital airwaves. But have you ever considered the incredible potential of a Community History Podcast rooted in the wealth of your library’s historical archives? Many libraries have created studio rooms for their patrons; however, how many take advantage of it themselves? […]
Create A Community of Time Travelers With A “Community History Club”
Every community is rich with history buffs, amateur genealogists, and curious minds who revel in the stories and memories of the past. Harnessing this shared interest, libraries can offer a unique platform for engagement: A “Community History Club.” Allowing each club member to set the topic and lead a meeting, it fosters a sense of […]
Engaging Your Community: A Path to Preserve History Together
Preserving the rich history of our community is a collective effort that requires engagement and support from all corners. At Advantage Archives, we firmly believe in the power of community involvement.. In this blog post, we’ll explore four ideas to engage our community and preserve your communities history. Alumni Foundations: Sponsoring Yearbook Digitization Our community’s […]
Create An Online “Meeting Place” For Community History Archive Users
Community engagement is at the heart of a modern library’s mission. Today, social media, blogging, and online forums offer a powerful toolbox to foster community around your library’s resources, including the Community History Archives. By leveraging the power of social media platforms and other online spaces, libraries can connect with their patrons in ways never […]
Developing a Digital Newspaper Archive Engagement Strategy
Community engagement is a dynamic, ongoing process. It involves listening, learning, adapting, and growing together. By innovatively leveraging a Community History Archive, libraries can further deepen their connections with their patrons, cultivating a community rooted in shared history, learning, and discovery. Remember, every article, every image, and every page from the past can open a […]
History After Dark: Try A “Community History Night” As An Engagement Strategy
Libraries have always been more than mere repositories of books. They are vibrant community hubs, fostering connections and offering enriching experiences to their patrons. One such opportunity lies in the creative use of our Community History Archives platform as a foundation to create engaging ‘Community History Night’ programs. These events, themed around specific decades, significant […]
Take Your Community On A Treasure Hunt Through Time
Several years ago, Advantage Archives helped a library partner create a multi-week scavenger hunt through history leading up to the 150th anniversary of the library. Using their Community History Archives, the local community was guided through a series of clues leading them to discover interesting facts, events, and stories about their local community, starting with […]
Happy National Library Week!
National Library Week is a time to celebrate libraries’ important role in our communities. Although often associated with books, libraries offer so much more than just reading materials. They serve as a hub for knowledge, culture, and history and play a crucial role in preserving and promoting the heritage of their communities. One of the […]
This Day In History: March 24th, 1989 – The Exxon Valdez
On March 24th, 1989, the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company, ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in history. The tanker, which was carrying over 53 million gallons of crude oil, struck a reef and spilled approximately 11 million gallons of oil into […]
His Dream: Looking Back At The Life & Times Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1963 – 1968)
It goes without saying that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an extraordinary man, living in a time that today’s generation can’t conceive of. Unfortunately, the accounts written in the history books are a retelling of the funds in a narrative form and often fail to capture the atmosphere of tension, disdain, anger, […]
His Dream: A Look Back At The Life Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1968)
The years following the march to Montgomery, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., worked to address issues of poverty and financial inequality, themes that continue to be in the headlines 50 years later. Economic inequality, access to affordable healthcare, and the social divide are still hot topic issues debated by pundits and activists in 2019. […]
The Benefits of Digitizing Yearbooks
The Benefits of Digitizing Yearbooks Yearbooks are a window into the past of your community. More than any other material, they offer a snapshot of what life was like at a particular time or moment, on a local level. They open the door to a familiar past for individuals diving into genealogical research, or just […]
Chattanooga, Coralville and Manchester: Advantage Has Been on the Road
Chattanooga and ARSL Over the past month, Advantage has been on the road. It all started when The Advantage team hit the road and headed out to Chattanooga for The Association of Rural and Small Libraries Conference. Being someone who has never been to Chatanooga, I was beyond surprised at how a town with less […]
