Go to your local public library branch again. Examine the local history, archives and/or special collections section. Ask a librarian if you don’t know if your library has special collections or where they are located. Be sure to check the reference section, too, as many of the newer and more valuable books are held in that area. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s local history and special collections.
If you read my week 1 entry, you know my closest library is just a suburban baby branch in a large county system. With that in mind, I knew there wouldn't be much in the special collections department. The area's "history" is about 30 years old and is marked by the first houses being built. There is no real past here, just a lot of trees.
I did inquire about newspaper archives, however. We have a little community paper and I was wondering if back issues exist and are accessible at the library. The answer I got was that the collection was "sporadic" depending on what they received.
Soon, the library will move to a new building that is 2 1/2 times larger than its current size. I am hoping this means that we'll get a little more room for unique collections. Until then, I have to mosey down the road to Humble for my local history fix.
Great to see you are on track with week 2
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you made the same discovery as I did - local newspaper archives - although in my case the collection is fairly complete.
ReplyDeleteI found that this assignment was very satisfying because it inspired me to stop procrastinating and drop in at my library, and because I feel good about having written something about our local resources that may come in handy to someone else.
Evelyn in Montreal