Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity Scrapbook

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Library brings local treasures online- NJ.com

U. NAZARETH TWP. | On page 230 of a scrapbook of local veterans you'll find pictures of Marcus, Kenneth, Elwood, Robert and Elmer Yeakel crisp in the uniforms they wore while serving in World War II and Korea.

You don't need to be in the borough to see it. You can take a peek at the Yeakel boys from the other side of the world.

The library has digitized and placed online a 272-page book chronicling the area's men and women at war and local events from the time, and issues of the one-time weekly, the Nazareth Item, from 1891 to 1917.

"Libraries have always been the keepers of local history," Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity Director Lynn Snodgrass-Pilla said. "You might think we have it tucked away in a shoebox, but we don't. It's online. Now our doors are open all the time."

Snodgrass-Pilla said the WWII scrapbook went live last year and some of the Item archives came online just this week. She said without the state-run organization Access Pennsylvania, the digital projects would have been impossible.

"It takes the burden off of small libraries," she said.

Library assistant and Nazareth history buff Alice Yeakel said she saw the Item for the first time this week since the paper ceased operations in 1975.

"I remember that paper as a kid," Yeakel said.

Children's librarian and assistant director Catherine Stewart said the digital archives are a great addition because the Item was only available on microfilm and the library doesn't own a microfilm reader.

"It's a link to local history," Stewart said.

Snodgrass-Pilla believes the wealth of information available in the two collections is enormous.

"The ads are great for historical research," Snodgrass-Pilla said. Some of the 1891 copies of the paper show the price of bread, the cost of shoes, various local-made goods that were available and the names of local stores now long gone.

Snodgrass-Pilla said a longtime patron gave the scrapbook to the library. She declined to name the patron, although notes in the scrapbook say it was compiled by Lou Einfalt from books put together by Cecelia Didovits and Mae Acker. It is chock full of clipped photos, news articles and a database of those who served, where they were from and where they were killed or wounded in action.

Former library board President Tara Capecci said the collections have generated a lot of buzz.

"I think it has been fabulous and a lot of people have looked at it," Capecci said. "It is a great archive system for people to go online and look at what (the library) has."

There are more than 50 collections online from 25 libraries, according to Access Pennsylvania. The libraries include DeSales University, the Lancaster Historical Society, Carnegie Mellon and Susquehanna University.

Snodgrass-Pilla said the Item's archives will take some time to input. The first three rolls -- of a total of 23 -- are online. She hopes to start working on digitizing a collection of postcards next.

"We are never at a loss for things to do," she said.

Access Pennsylvania Digital Repository