DOCUMENT RESUME ED 392 443 IR 055.822 AUTHOR Palmer, Joseph W., Comp.; And Others TITLE A Guide to Local History Resources in Public Libraries of the Province of Ontario. Together with the Results of a Survey of Public Libraries Served by the Southern Ontario Library Service. INSTITUTION State Univ. of New York, Buffalo. School of Information and Library Studies. PUB DATE 95 NOTE 145p. PUB TYPE Reference Materials Directories/Catalogs (132) Reports Research/Technical (143) EMS PRICE MFOI/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Feeeral Aid; Foreign Countries; *Genealogy; *Information Sources; Information Technology; .*Library Collections; Library Equipment; Library Funding; Library Personnel; Library Policy; *Library Surveys; *Local History; *Public Libraries IDENTIFIERS Canada; *Ontario ABSTRACT The purpose of this guide to local hiStory resources in Ontario (Canada) public libraries is to evaluate current trends, problems, and innovations, including the use of new technologies. The guide was developed from a survey of Southern Ontario Library System (SOLS) members; a total of 58 libraries provided information about their local history collections. The survey found that local history and genealogy is an important component of the collections of many Ontario libraries. In most cases, local history is an additional responsibility given to regular reference staff. Inadequate staff time and expertise are the chief factors that limit collection growth. Library cooperation and communication with local historical and genealogical societies has resulted in mutually beneficial projects. Many of the libraries' most useful local history resources are the result of provincial and federal grants. A numberof problems were indicated by the survey, including inadequatestaffing, lack of space, funds, anu equipment, problems related toadministration of resources, and theft and natural disasters.Automation and new technologies offer great hope for preserving and expanding access to local history resources; an increasing number of libraries are putting local history catalogs, indexes, and k.ctual resources into machine readable form. Also included in this guide are: a directory of the libraries; list of libraries (with corresponding page numbers) mentioned in the directory; lists of libraries with collection development policies and gift/donation forms; and a bibliography of library produced descriptive and promotional literature. Appendices provide sample polices and forms. (Contains 17 references.) (AEF) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************** A OUIDE TO LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCES IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Cw,c,,,Eaucapy,ifflusedic,uwirmy0,,c.,ent EDUCA1 IONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER tERICI O This document has been reproduced as Together with the Results of a Survey of received from the person or organization originating it Public Libraries served by the O Minor changes have been made to Southern Ontario Library Service improve reproduction quality Points of vich% or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy Compiled by Joseph W. Palmer, PhD Associate Professor State University of New York at Buffalo School of Information and Library Studies With the Assistance of Lynne Prunskus Brock University Special Collections This project was conducted with the support of the Canadian-American Studies Committee State University of New York at Buffalo and with the assistance of Anna Johnston Hamilton Office Southern Ontario Library Service School of Information and Library Studies State University of New York at Buffalo 1995 'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Joseph W. Palmer TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES BEST COPY AVAILABLE INFORMATION CENTER IERICI A GUIDE TO LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCES IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO Together with the Results of a Survey of Public Libraries served by the 3outheri Ontario Library Service Compiled by Joseph W. Palmer, PhD Associate Professor State University of New York at Buffalo School of Information and Library Studies With the Assistance of Lynne Prunskus Brock University Special Collections This project was conducted with the support of the Canadian-American Studies Committee State University of New York at Buffalo and with the assistance of Anna Johnston Hamilton Office Southern Ontario Library Service School of Information and Library Studies State University of New York at Buffalo 1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 LIST OF LIBRARIESFOUNDIN THE DIRECTORY SECTION 3 LIST OF LIBRARIESWITHCOLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICIES 6 LIST OF LIBRARIESWITHGIFT/DONATION FORMS 6 RESULTS OF THE SURVEY 7 Characteristics of Ontario Local History Collections 7 Major Collections 8 Impact of Provincial Grants 9 Problems 11 Amtomation and Innovation 13 SOURCES CITED AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 18 BIBL/OGRAPHY OF LIBRARY PRODUCED DESCRIPTIVE AND PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE 21 DIRECTORY SECTION 23 APPENDIX: SAMPLE POLICIES AND FORMS 109 - Anonymous Public Library 110 (Draft of C,Alection Policy; Donation Agreement) - Barrie Public Library 113 (Collection Development Policy) - Brampton Public Library 115 (Collection Development Policy) - Burlington Public Library 119 (Procedures for Using Collection) - Guelph Public Library 121 (Materials Request Form; Donations) - Hamilton Public Library 122 (Role Statement; Reciept for Valuable Papers) - Mississaugua PublicLibrary 123 (Collection Plan; Security Procedures) - Orangeville Public Library 125 (Goals & Objectives) - Ottawa Public Library 126 (Ottawa Room Collection Policy) INTRODUCTION In the summer of 1994, this researcher, with support from the the Canadian-American Studies Committee of the State University of New York at Buffalo, visited a number of Southern Ontario public library local history collections and interviewed several other librarians by telephone. 2he purpose was (1) to learn about local history and genealogy resources in these libraries and (2) to develop and pretest a survey instrument that could be used to collect information about local history resources and their administration in Ontario public libraries. The ultimate goal was to produce a Guide to Local History Resources in Ontario Public Libraries andto evaluate current trends, problems, and innovations including the use of new technolog*es. In this undertaking, invaluable assistance was received from the Southern Ontario Library System (SOLS) which agreed to distribute the Survey instrument with their quarterly newsletter. Anna Johnston of the Hamilton Office was extremelyhelpful. Recognition must also be given to the assistance provided by Lynne Prunskus, a student at the School of Information and Library Studies who is employed in the Special Collections Department of Brock University. The questionnaire was distributed to SOLS members in September 1994. Responses were returned to the Hamilton Office and were forwarded to this researcher in January 1995.Some libraries included _copies of their local history collection development policies and some provided samples of their descriptive and promotional literature. Soae of these collection development policies are reproduced in the Appendix of this guide, anda bibliography of library produced descriptive and promotional literature appears on page 21. These publications contain valuable information and could serve both as reference tools for other libraries and models for them to emulate. Copies should be requested from the individual libraries. A total of 58 public libraries provided information about their local history collections. Results of the Survey are summarized beginning on page 7. To increase the scope and detail of this guide, survey responses have been augmented in the Directory Section by including data from several other publications- most notably Angus Baxter's outstanding guide to Canadian genealogy, In Search of Your Canadian Roots, and C. William Filby's Directory of American Libraries with Genealogy or Local History Collections. Consequently, the Directory Section contaias information about 139 Ontario public libraries. 2 LIBRARIES LISTED IN THE DIRECTORY SECTION ALLISTON See NEW TECUMSETH Public Library ALMONTE Public Library (p. 23) ATIKOKAN Public Library (p. 23) BAILIEBORO See CAVAN-MILLBROOK-SOUTH MONAGHAN Union Library BALA See PORT CARLING Public Library BARRIE Public Library (p 23) BATH Public Library (LEN & ADDINGTON COUNTY Library)(p. 24) BEAMSVILLE See LINCOLN PUblic Library BELLEVILLE Public Library (p. 25) BLOOMFIELD HALLOWELL Union Library (p. 26) BOWMANVILLESee NEWCASTLE Public Library BRACEBRIDGE Public Library (p. 27) BRADFORD - WEST GWILLIMBURY Public Library (p. 27) BRAMPTON Public Library (p. 27) BRANTFORD Public Library (p. 28) BRITT Area Library (p. 28) BROCKVILLE Public Library (p. 29) BRUCE COUNTY Public Library (p. 29) BURLINGTON Public Library (p. 29) CAMBRIDGE public Library (p. 31) CAPREOL Pub.l.iv. Library (p. 31) CASTLETON See CRAMAHE TOWNSHIP Public Library CAVAN-MILLBROOK-SOUTH MONAGHAN Union Library (p. 31) CHATHAM Public Library (p. 31) CLEARVIEW Public Library (p. 32) COBOURG Public Library (p. 33) COLBORNE Public Library (p. 35) COLLINGWOOD Public Library (p. 34) CORNWALL Public Library (p. 35) CRAMAHE TOWNSHIP Public Library (p. 36) DEEP RIVER (W B Lewis) Public Library (p. 37) DELHI TOWNSHIP Public Library