[WEB4LIB] local history online

[Chris Murphy]

Jenny Paradiso wrote:
> ...
> Are there any libraries out there who provide online, searchable access to local history resources (eg. photos, oral histories)?
> If so, could you please post the url of your site?
> How do you provide access to the resources?  For example, are you using your library web catalogue to enable online access, or do you have a separate database?
> Who is responsible for maintaining and adding to the online local history collection?
> Does the collection belong to the library or a local historical society?

The Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho USA provides web access to its Regional History Department metadata database via http://www.thecommunitylibrary.org/regionalhistory .

The database contains information about historical items such as photographs, oral histories, sound recordings, videos, ephemerae, etc. Currently, photos are not viewable online due to copyright restrictions on some of the photos. As the library for the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area, we have photos which contain images of celebrities and may not be published without permission or remuneration. We have a plan, however, to provide access to photos and a more friendly interface (as soon as I have the time to work on the technical details!)

We use FileMaker Pro as both a database and web server for the metadata. The Regional History Department's books are accessible separately via the library's web catalog.

We have a Regional History Librarian (reghist at thecommunitylibrary.org) who is responsible for maintaining and adding to the collection which belongs to the library. We have begun to coordinate with the local historical society to provide better access to historical materials to the public.

Chris Murphy

-- 
Christopher Murphy
Information Systems Manager
The Community Library, Ketchum, Idaho
chrism at thecommunitylibrary.org
(208) 726-3493 x111
http://www.thecommunitylibrary.org