Contributed Photo
Karen and John Jernigan (left) receive a check from San Antonio Valley Historical Association President Dennis Palm and Director Paul Getzelman on behalf of Friends of the King City Library for a new microfilm scanner.
KING CITY — A new microfilm scanner for the King City Branch Library of the Monterey County Free Libraries is on order and expected soon thanks to a generous grant and donations from more than 50 residents and businesses.
The new machine will allow better access to more than 100 years of information on microfilm at the King City Library.
Issues of The King City Rustler newspaper going back to 1901 were converted to microfilm back in the early 1980s by Publisher Harry Casey. The machine that allowed access to the microfilm is now nearly 40 years old and difficult to use. The new equipment will be similar to microfilm scanners used at the California History Room at the State Library in Sacramento.
Led by an effort by King City residents John and Karen Jernigan, a representative from Total Imaging Solutions came to the library last fall and did a demonstration of the equipment. The San Antonio Valley Historical Association (SAVHA) then applied for a grant for historical preservation from the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
Paul Getzelman of SAVHA wrote the grant that provided the seed money for the purchase of the machine, which came to around $12,000. Letters were then sent out asking for donations, and more than 50 people responded giving everything from $10 to more than $1,000.
The project is being sponsored by the Friends of the King City Library with the support of King City Librarian Robin Cauntay.
When the equipment arrives, it will give access to area history and genealogy. In addition, information stored on microfilm anywhere in the inter-library loan system will be accessible. A dedication ceremony will be planned once the equipment has been installed.
