11/15/2018 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE Minutes

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5 Community Preservation Committee Minutes November 15, 2018 Applicant: Mashpee Public Library Preserving Our Past: Digitization of the Mashpee Enterprise Newspaper: $50,350: (cont'd) Ms. Savage indicated the Library has permission to use the microfilm from the Mashpee Enterprise to do the scanning, and the most recent papers are in pdf format. Currently,the printed archive of the paper is stored in archival boxes. The newsprint is unstable and will deteriorate overtime. The permanent digital archive would protect the paper from deterioration and improve the documents as a searchable resource that is accessible to all users. The software company selected by the Mashpee Library has digitized historical newspaper collections for Cape towns including the Towns of Falmouth, Barnstable, Dennis Yarmouth, Nantucket and Provincetown. The project application for CPA funding is requested to derive from the Historic purposes category. Discussion followed with respect to appropriateness of this project for historical funding. Ms. Savage responded by stating the project would be considered as historical for use in genealogy. The library does not have historical documents. With the digitalization of the newspaper, patrons would have the ability to research the past. Town Planner Evan Lehrer indicated this project is reflective of a piece of the Town of Mashpee's life and it does not have to be historical. In 1986 to 1962,the Falmouth Enterprise reported on the Town of Mashpee. In1994,the Mashpee Enterprise began to solely report for the Town of Mashpee. The cost of digitizing the future years of the newspaper would be assumed through multiple sources including the Friends of the Mashpee Library and grant funds. Letters of support were included from the Superintendent of Schools, the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Commission and from. Rosemary Burns, an author and local historian. Category specific criteria associated to the CPC Funding application under Historic Preservation proposals include; demonstrate a public benefit and to protect, preserve, enhance, restore and/or rehabilitate town-owned properties, features or resources of historical significance. Ms. Savage was requested to provide further information regarding the towns using CPA funding to digitize, and to what current period.