EZPhotoScan.com Donates Scanning Equipment to Apopka Historical Society and Museum

EZPhotoScan.com has shown its support for the Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans' Digital Preservation Program with a gift of professional scanning equipment valued at nearly $3,500. E-Z PhotoScan.com owner Richard Lippert presented the equipment on December 27, 2012 to Museum of the Apopkans Acting President Raymond McLeod and Technology Department Director Larry Leudenburg.

Lippert, an enthusiastic proponent of museum digital preservation programs nationwide has supported theMuseum of the Apopka's digital archiving program by providing digitizing services since its inception several years ago. Lippert says the Museum of the Apopkans archiving project is particularly important since it is the primary steward of the area's history, including the history of the Apopka Indians as well as the early pioneers of Apopka and Northwest Orange County, Florida.

The donation places professional scanning and archiving equipment in the hands of volunteers performing the painstaking process of digitizing the Museum's collection. EZPhotoScan will also contribute professional support services for the Museum's volunteer staff.

The state-of-the-art scanning and archiving equipment donated by EZPhotoScan.com includes a 21-inch MSI touchscreen PC, a Kodak PS450 Walk-up Photo Scanner, a Kodak Legal Flatbed Accessory and a Kodak Scanner Carrying Case.

"We have always supported the Museum's decision to digitally archive its treasures," Lippert says. "Digital archiving is a growing trend among museums worldwide, as aging collections risk deterioration from time, storage, and the elements.

"Here in Central Florida, even the most ideal storage options can't protect 19th century photographs and other delicate historical documents from time and the elements, making digital archiving all the more urgent to museum curators who are working to protect the collections for future generations to enjoy."

The Museum's first archiving project with the new equipment includes a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind vintage postcards that were donated to the museum. After the collection is scanned, the postcards will be available for viewing online as a part of the Museum's growing digital collection, as well as in the Museum.

EZPhotoScan.com is donating its expertise to help develop this online platform for the Museum of the Apopkans, and currently has thousands of Apopka-related photos and treasured documents scanned and ready to exhibit online.

The new archiving equipment will be available to the public with Museum volunteer assistance, and plans are underway for preservation training classes within the community.

Since the equipment is mobile, a community history booth can be set up for certain community events, and Museum volunteers will be able to help members of the Apopka community scan their treasured documents and photos to share as part of the Museum's Permanent Collection.

Included in the Museum's Permanent Collection are an 1887 map of Apopka, an early school days exhibit, 19th century photos of area homes and buildings, foot pedal sewing machines, early kitchen appliances and household items, citrus, cattle, and farming industry memorabilia, old tools, a wine press, a corn shiller, saddles and lanterns. The Indian Room Collection contains artifacts from the Lake Apopka area. The Meeting Room and Library contain scrapbooks filled with Apopka history, maps, newspaper clippings, photographs and microfilm from The Apopka Chief Newspaper, and additional printed materials available for research.

Lippert is committed to spreading the word on how digital technology is impacting the world of picture taking, sharing and preservation. EZPhotoScan.com is a member of the Outreach Group of the Library of Congress' National Digital Stewardship Alliance, and Lippert is member of the Association of Personal Historians.

EZPhotoScan.com offers a weekly blog each Monday on digital archiving technology and its applications for photo preservation and sharing taking place in museums worldwide. For more information on high volume, high speed archival and photo scanning equipment, visit the EZPhotoScan.com website, call 1-866-562-4660, or Email info(at)EZPhotoScan(dot)com.

Founded by owner Richard Lippert in 1995, EZPhotoScan.com has turned the task of managing documents into an art form. The EZPhotoScan.com group was formed to offer best-in-class solutions for scanning pictures, printed memories, and sensitive documents.

EZPhotoScan.com provides full service assistance to individuals looking to do their own scanning, have it done for them, or start their own conversion service.