Letter from Virginia Mosley to the Library Board of Trustees., 1978
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Virginia Mosley to the Library Board of Trustees., 1978
Description
Letter to the Library Board of Trustees from Virginia Mosley describing the reasons the public library should create a local history collection that could be made available to all students of history.
Source
Virginia Mosley Local History Collection
Date
August 16, 1978
Format
letter
Language
English
Type
text
Identifier
vm_lettertolibraryboard_1978.pdf
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
114 Columbus Drive
Tenafly, N.J. 07670
August 16, 1978
To the Board of Trustees of the Tenafly Public Library:
What is the value to the people of Tenafly of a local history collection in the Public Library? Such a collection helps develop an awareness of why our Borough is as it is. It is a form of public relations in making others aware of our community. It encourages pride in and a sense of identification with Tenafly. Studying local history can prevent a repetition of mistakes. The schools look to the Public Library to supplement their information on the Borough. With a local history collection in the library, it is available to all ages, all students.
While many libraries specialize in collecting local, county or state history, there does not seem to be any written policy which defines what will be collected. After the Trustees of the Library asked that I research this question, I spoke to various librarians, locally and about the nation. The ones to whom I spoke seemed amazed at the need for a policy. They have been collecting
such material as an obligation, a part of the responsibility of their job.
A recent publication, "Local History Collections, A Manual for Librarians", by End T. Thompson, an American Association for State and Local History publication, could be considered a statement of policy. The author discusses the Englewood, Colorado, Public Library and its collection. In Chapter 3, 'The materials of Local History' are identified as: books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, photographs and prints, tape recordings, ephemera, clippings, manuscript materials, memorabilia, collections maps and measured drawings. The remaning chapters deal with the legal aspects, conservation, processing, services, etc..
Material from Charles F. Cummings, Supervising Librarian, New Jersey Reference Division, Newark Public Library, indicates the same concern. I am enclosing a copy of his letter and "The Guide to the New Jersey Reference Division." He indicates five areas: books, information files, documents, pictures, and manuscripts and archives.
In relation to a local History Collection for the Tenafly Public Library based on the references you have, plus what I have, and using guidelines from the above and elsewhere, I would like to suggest the following categories as being worthy of consideration: archives, books, clippings, ephemera, microfilm, newspapers, pictures, slides and miscellaneous.
When I was appointed Borough. Historian, it was without pay. The same situation prevails today, but in recent years I have been given a budget of $200 annually. This is spent at my discretion with the approval of other Borough officials. I have paid part of my expenses to attend the national meetings of the American Association for State and Local History, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and for state meetings. I am recognized as a
professional in the field of local history, and am consulted by others.
[page] 2
Some money from these funds has been expended for an occasional book.The majority of the books in my collection I have purchased myself. The Borough has approved these funds being used to build up the slide collection and the picture collection, which the Library had not wanted to be responsible for. In both collections there are several hundred items, and they are borrowed. There are museum items stored over the Bolice Station, and maps and atlases
stored at the Borough Hall. In my vertical file, I have developed the following items as a result of questions asked. See enclosed seven pages. [seven pages listing not with this letter]
If the local public library does not care about their own community, others will reflect this same attitude. When authors research for books and use local material, readers enjoy identification, and read the credit lines. What will happen to Tenafly material in the future will be dependent in part upon the attitude of the Tenafly Library and its personnel.
I appreciated your resolution that you were willing to accept my materials. Considering the financial investment I have in books, I want them ultimately to go where they will be of use to students. The material the Borough has paid for naturally belongs to the Borough. If you have further questions, please ask. I realize you are limited by space but there is no library that is not. The County and State Libraries will take some Tenafly material, but they do as Mr. Cummings indicates- "we still find it necessary to call upon local libraries and consider them the ultimate source in answering the most detailed questions about their communities."
Sincerely,
[signature Virginia T. Mosley]
Virginia T. Mosley
Borough HIstorian
cc:Mayor Manos
Charles Cummings
George Brown
American Association for State and Local History
Tenafly, N.J. 07670
August 16, 1978
To the Board of Trustees of the Tenafly Public Library:
What is the value to the people of Tenafly of a local history collection in the Public Library? Such a collection helps develop an awareness of why our Borough is as it is. It is a form of public relations in making others aware of our community. It encourages pride in and a sense of identification with Tenafly. Studying local history can prevent a repetition of mistakes. The schools look to the Public Library to supplement their information on the Borough. With a local history collection in the library, it is available to all ages, all students.
While many libraries specialize in collecting local, county or state history, there does not seem to be any written policy which defines what will be collected. After the Trustees of the Library asked that I research this question, I spoke to various librarians, locally and about the nation. The ones to whom I spoke seemed amazed at the need for a policy. They have been collecting
such material as an obligation, a part of the responsibility of their job.
A recent publication, "Local History Collections, A Manual for Librarians", by End T. Thompson, an American Association for State and Local History publication, could be considered a statement of policy. The author discusses the Englewood, Colorado, Public Library and its collection. In Chapter 3, 'The materials of Local History' are identified as: books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, photographs and prints, tape recordings, ephemera, clippings, manuscript materials, memorabilia, collections maps and measured drawings. The remaning chapters deal with the legal aspects, conservation, processing, services, etc..
Material from Charles F. Cummings, Supervising Librarian, New Jersey Reference Division, Newark Public Library, indicates the same concern. I am enclosing a copy of his letter and "The Guide to the New Jersey Reference Division." He indicates five areas: books, information files, documents, pictures, and manuscripts and archives.
In relation to a local History Collection for the Tenafly Public Library based on the references you have, plus what I have, and using guidelines from the above and elsewhere, I would like to suggest the following categories as being worthy of consideration: archives, books, clippings, ephemera, microfilm, newspapers, pictures, slides and miscellaneous.
When I was appointed Borough. Historian, it was without pay. The same situation prevails today, but in recent years I have been given a budget of $200 annually. This is spent at my discretion with the approval of other Borough officials. I have paid part of my expenses to attend the national meetings of the American Association for State and Local History, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and for state meetings. I am recognized as a
professional in the field of local history, and am consulted by others.
[page] 2
Some money from these funds has been expended for an occasional book.The majority of the books in my collection I have purchased myself. The Borough has approved these funds being used to build up the slide collection and the picture collection, which the Library had not wanted to be responsible for. In both collections there are several hundred items, and they are borrowed. There are museum items stored over the Bolice Station, and maps and atlases
stored at the Borough Hall. In my vertical file, I have developed the following items as a result of questions asked. See enclosed seven pages. [seven pages listing not with this letter]
If the local public library does not care about their own community, others will reflect this same attitude. When authors research for books and use local material, readers enjoy identification, and read the credit lines. What will happen to Tenafly material in the future will be dependent in part upon the attitude of the Tenafly Library and its personnel.
I appreciated your resolution that you were willing to accept my materials. Considering the financial investment I have in books, I want them ultimately to go where they will be of use to students. The material the Borough has paid for naturally belongs to the Borough. If you have further questions, please ask. I realize you are limited by space but there is no library that is not. The County and State Libraries will take some Tenafly material, but they do as Mr. Cummings indicates- "we still find it necessary to call upon local libraries and consider them the ultimate source in answering the most detailed questions about their communities."
Sincerely,
[signature Virginia T. Mosley]
Virginia T. Mosley
Borough HIstorian
cc:Mayor Manos
Charles Cummings
George Brown
American Association for State and Local History
Original Format
letter
Collection
Citation
“Letter from Virginia Mosley to the Library Board of Trustees., 1978,” Digital Archives of the Tenafly Public Library, accessed April 18, 2024, https://tpl.omeka.net/items/show/221.
Item Relations
| Item: Resolution establishing the Tenafly Library Local History Collection. | Is Referenced By | This Item |
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