Whether you are trying to find a long-lost relative, or doing research for a local history book, iDigOrion can be utilized as a resource for you.
The site, operated through the Orion Township Library and maintained by their LAN/Web coordinator Judi Rudisill, has archived issues of The Lake Orion Review available for viewing online in their entirety.
‘Our collection starts from 1888-1934,? Rudisill said. ‘We started this about four and a half years ago.?
However, Rudisill said the library currently has a lot of gaps in their newspaper collection, and hope some members of the community might have old issues they could borrow.
‘We need The Lake Orion Review from the 1940s, and before the 1930s,? she said. ‘We have a lot of gaps.
‘The World War II period is one we also seem to be missing a chunk from,? Rudisill said.
There is a list of needed issues available at the library. Rudisill said they need only be readable in order to be scanned into the computer for posting on iDigOrion.
‘Even if they are ragged and torn,? she said. ‘We can patch them up before scanning them.?
Once issues are scanned in and posted on iDigOrion, which is available on the Internet anywhere in the world at iDigOrion.org, or through the Orion Township Library’s website, you can put in a keyword or date to search for information.
‘It doesn’t have to be a headline, it can be any text,? said Rudisill. ‘It highlights the words that you searched for in the issue, so you can see quickly if it is what you need.?
Each search also gives a list of dates to help narrow things down.
‘Once you find what you are looking for, you can print individual articles,? Rudisill said.
The library is putting current issues of The Lake Orion Review on iDigOrion, but Rudisill said how quickly they go up depends on the availability of their volunteer who does the scanning.
‘Usually we do a batch every month,? she said.
Orion Library Adult Services Librarian Steve Saunders said he has helped several clients access iDigOrion for a number of projects.
‘Ed Roberts used it to do his marine mail research,? Saunders said. ‘We do have some local historians coming in.?
Saunders said Lake Orion Schools has also used the site for student projects.
‘People from out of state also use it, to look for relatives in the area,? he said.
Rudisill noted that local historian Jim Ingram, who has written many columns for The Lake Orion Review, used iDigOrion when he was researching his local history book.
‘Our next project will be the Oakland County Historical Connection,? she said. ‘It’s between Oakland County libraries and genealogy groups.?
The Orion Library’s part of the project will involve scanning in historic Orion photographs.
Rudisill is hoping people in the area have some the library can borrow for scanning. She said any historic photograph is wanted.
‘We’re also going to be making iDigOrion more interactive, by having it so people can leave comments about what they were there searching for…so they can ask if anyone has more information,? Rudisill said.
‘That will start at the beginning of the year.?