News : Library cup sales to help raise funds to digitize old newspapers

In addition to loaning books and videos, Virginia Holsten and her staff at the Vinton Public Library are now offering the sale of blue cups. The cups are part of a fund-raising effort to help obtain the money necessary to digitize decades of microfilmed newspapers. This will allow people to search the papers on their computers via the Internet rather than having to scroll through each year while using the microfilm machine in the library basement. Virginia said that while the local Genealogical Society has worked to digitalize the copies of the Vinton Eagle, the many years' worth of Times newspapers still need to be placed on-line. Net proceeds from the cup sales will help fund the project, expected to cost $10,000 to $15,000. Cups are $5 or $7 for decorated cups.