National Sporting Library & Museum to Digitize its Rare Book Collection
Middleburg, Virginia - The National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) received a major grant from the Ohrstrom Foundation. The grant was made in May 2018 and will support the NSLM’s project to digitize its collections and share them online. The grant will make it possible for NSLM to purchase scanning equipment designed to take high-resolution images of pages of rare books. Once digital images have been made, they will be added to an online site where readers and researchers can access them from anywhere in the world.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Ohrstrom Foundation for their investment in this project,” said NSLM’s Executive Director Melanie Mathewes. “The NSLM has a superb book collection and we cannot wait to make it available to a wider audience.”
NSLM currently reaches an online audience of over 13,000 annually through its blog, Drawing Covert, and thousands more through social media. The addition of a digital collection will meet the needs of researchers across the globe who wish to access the unique materials in the Library’s collections.
John Connolly, NSLM’s George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Head Librarian offers presentations and tours of the Library’s rare book holdings with a special focus on the antiquarian titles to be digitized in the project. The NSLM will continue to raise funds toward the project to grow it for future years. To schedule a Library tour or to donate to this exciting new project, contact John Connolly at JConnolly@NationalSporting.org or 540-687-6542 x18
The National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) is located in Middleburg, V.A., the heart of beautiful hunt country. Founded in 1954, the renowned research Library, and fine art Museum highlight the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. Angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechasing, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife are among the subjects one can explore in the organization’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection. The NSLM offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year, and is open to researchers and the general public. While there is no admission fee to the Library, the Museum charges $10 for adults, $8 for youths (age 13-18), and $8 for seniors. NSLM members and children age 12 and under are free. Library & Museum hours are Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
