In celebration of National Preservation Week, San Jose Public Library is offering a way for you to preserve your personal and family memories. Library staff will be on hand to help you scan photographs and documents that have meaning in your life, and perhaps that you would like to share with others.

I have a photograph of my grandfather, a World War II veteran, who passed away last year. My grandmother gave me this image and also shared with me a few stories about how they first met and what their early years together were like. I would like to share this image and her personal stories with my 20 cousins spread throughout the United States. In this way the family memories can be saved and handed down.

Let us help you do the same. We welcome you to attend a Scan Day at any of the following times and places. Please bring up to ten items to scan and we will help you save the digitized images to a CD.

West Valley Branch Library

Thrusday, April 4th 11-1 pm

Berryessa Branch Library

Friday, April 5th 2-4 pm

Rose Garden Branch Library

Thursday, April 11th 11-1 pm

Evergreen Branch Library

Thursday, April 11th 4-6 pm

When Maria Delaney took the photos out of her folder, her face glowed as she showed me a family photo dated back to the early 1900s.  Even though it definitely had signs of deterioration and fading, Maria was at the library to preserve this photo digitally.  At Evergreen Branch Library’s Scan Day, Maria and other customers brought photos that weren’t “born digital” and created electronic copies. 

Gloria Guel is one of many siblings in her family.  “Everyone wanted the same picture but we only have one,” says Guel.  So her solution: scan the photos and send electronic copies to everyone. 

If you are interested in getting some photos scanned, you still have a chance!  In celebration of National Preservation Week, Scan Days are planned at the following locations and dates:

Pearl Avenue Branch Library

Friday, April 13^th 3-5pm

Santa Teresa Branch Library

Saturday, April 21^st 11-1pm

Customers are limited to 10 photos/documents to scan.  Each customer will receive copies of their items on a CD.  If you’d like to see what the library has as far as photos, take a look at our California Room’s Digital Collections.