Local History Refernce Collections for Public Libraries

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.

Author Biography

Kathy Marquis most recently worked as a public services librarian at the Albany County Public Library in Laramie, Wyoming. In her nearly 40 years as an archivist and librarian, she has directed reference in a wide variety of settings, including a large state historical society, university archives, and special collections. She loves finding ways to connect patrons with historical materials that they will enjoy or find useful—or both.

Leslie Waggener is an archivist at the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center (AHC), USA. Over the 14 years she has been at the AHC, she has worked with all types of historical materials in areas of reference, processing, and acquisition.