Posted on December 16, 2015 at 11:05 AM by Brian Herder
Local History Reference Collections for Public Libraries (2015)
Kathy Marquis and Leslie Waggener
American Library Association
978-0-8389-1331-4
A collection of local history materials is useful to a wide variety of
library users, from genealogists and family historians, to patrons
researching the history of their home or church, and local students
searching for class project resources. But the idea of creating one can
feel intimidating--conjuring up visions of establishing elaborate
security procedures, finding dedicated space to house the materials, and
even the need for new staff to process and provide access to the
collection. Yet there’s a much easier way, one that spotlights your
existing materials by complementing them with published materials
commonly found in or available to public libraries. Speaking from their
own experiences, while also sharing examples and ideas from other
libraries around the country, the authors present a start-to-finish
guidebook for creating a local history reference collection that your
community will embrace and use regularly. Written in a to-the-point
manner that facilitates easy implementation, this book:
- Shows why a
local history reference collection is important, how it fits into a
library’s mission statement, and offers tips for getting stakeholders on
board
- Summarizes current trends and practices, explaining the differences between a local history reference collection and an archive
- Walks
you through each step of planning and setting up a collection, offering
guidance for determining your audience, gathering materials, cataloging
and processing, and collaborating with other local history
organizations
- Includes advice on housing your collection, providing access for researchers and other users, and staff training
- Gives tips for marketing and outreach, including how to bolster your collection’s presence on the web and in social media
By
using materials already in your library or easily available to you,
creating a local history reference collection can be easier than you
think, and this book shows you how.