Du Quoin Library Board hosts appreciation reception after $3,000 gift from foundation

Members of the Du Quoin Public Library board Monday night hosted an appreciation reception for Du Quoin Volunteer Foundation president Andrew Darnell to say "thank you" to the foundation for donating $3,000 toward the purchase of a $12,350 ScanPro 1100 microfilm viewer, scanner and printer.

The state-of-the art equipment replaces a decades-old reel-to-reel microfilm reader.

This unit, in combination with a computer component, will also be the future storage system for digital copies of the Du Quoin photographic archives of Robert Morefield.

No other equipment can match the performance of this system, used in media centers are major colleges, universities and community libraries.

The equipment features an intuitive on-screen magnifier, customizable tool bar tabs and button controls.

It also has security features to prevent stored material from being pirated to a USB drive.

Purchase of the equipment fulfills a hope of local educator and historian Galen Davis, who spent many hours researching the microfilm files of the Du Quoin Evening Call to create many of the written community histories we have today. Foundation president Darnell of Edward Jones Investments and foundation vice-president Dan Fulk, president of the Du Quoin State Bank, helped make it happen with the advice and consent of foundation members.

Library staff members Kristina Benson and Barb Croessman extended their appreciation alongside board president Joy Upton and and board members Carol Downs and Leanna Leek.

The equipment is still boxed, waiting for technicians from the imaging company to mate the two systems together and install it in close proximity to the genealogy department.

It is truly a great resource for the community.

The foundation is hosting its second annual four person golf scramble at Red Hawk Golf Course on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Check-in and lunch is at 12 noon. The shotgun start is 1 p.m.

You can be a hole sponsor for $50. You can play for a donation of $60. A team of four and being a hole sponsor at the same time will cost you $290.

That will get you the entry fee, a golf cart, lunch and more."