Columbia library embraces preservation, offers digital archiving services

Pam Myers arrived at the Columbia Public Library on Wednesday afternoon with a puzzle box secured by rubber bands containing decades of family history. Alongside library associate Ben Hoffman, Myers gently sorted through her box of antique photographs and documents, which were going to be digitized using the library’s advanced scanning machines in the Learning Center.

“This is a postcard that a great uncle or something sent from the Feller Institute in Quebec,” Myers said as she pointed to the faded handwritten year, 1910.

It was her second time at the library’s “DIY Digital Archiving Lab,” where library staff assist patrons in scanning and downloading digital copies of any physical media they wish to preserve.

She smiled with pride as she plucked out a colorized photograph of her mother in red lipstick and Royal Canadian Air Force uniform, with whom she shares an uncanny resemblance. “She would have been 105 today, actually,” she said.

Myers said she came across the lab while browsing the library’s event offerings, as she always does, and thought she would attend to learn how to preserve the historical media she had digitally. Her cousin’s son had also recently taken an interest in the family’s genealogy. She hoped to send him some early family photographs dating back to at least the early 1900s, as well as pictures he’d never seen of his grandmother, who passed away in the 60s.

Why digital preservation matters

The program’s beginnings were inspired by the Library of Congress’ Preservation Week, held at the end of April, which highlights preservation efforts and innovations across the nation’s libraries, communities and historical societies. The initiative began in Boone County in 2014 when library staff started exploring ways to help the community preserve mid-Missouri history.

Seth Smith, librarian and digital archive director, said the library wanted to create an online community archive in the interest of preserving history, which eventually led to a rise in demand from patrons for assistance with technology for digitizing archival media.

Smith studied history at the University of Missouri and said he finds it “tragic” that so many photo albums or old photograph collections “just get tossed out.”

“The need is there, and those ancient photos are going to be lost to history if we don’t digitize them,” he said.

“(Digitization) is one of the main components of public and social history to me,” he added.

Smith taught a personal archiving course at the library for several years, and the library offered one-on-one “tech help” appointments to help the community with digitization. As demand for the service increased, the staff transitioned the offering to a sign-up-only lab, allowing the library to organize appointments better and provide one-on-one assistance to patrons.

In May 2025, Smith submitted the program’s application for a technology mini-grant from the Missouri State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which awarded the library more than $5,500 to purchase higher-quality scanning equipment.

Since its launch in July 2025, Smith said the program has been “unbelievably successful.” He said they often keep a waiting list and are asked about adding additional appointments.

“Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is help our patrons and help people with preservation as a long-term goal. That helps society and contributes to public history,” Smith said.

Myers noted that she had to book her spots months in advance because of the program’s popularity and one-on-one nature. Currently, all upcoming sessions are fully booked, including the Feb. 24 session, the furthest date posted online. The library holds two sessions every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and noon.

“I highly recommend people do this,” Myers said. “Get them digitized properly here and share them, because that information will be lost forever when that photograph is no longer.”