Oral History in Your Library: Create Shelf Space for Community Voice

While university libraries have long played a passive role as repositories for oral histories, Nelson (oral history, Carnegie Lib. for Local History, Boulder, CO) focuses on why libraries, especially public libraries, should become proactive "instigators of oral history." When seen as a dynamic means of developing community self-awareness, oral history projects enable libraries to share unique information while strengthening ties to individuals and organizations. Within a framework addressing collection development, preservation, organization, and dissemination, tips on applying cataloging standards and using digital media are interspersed with anecdotes about local and national oral history efforts. This concise overview of the benefits of pursuing oral history projects can be supplemented by various how-to manuals, including Nancy MacKay et al.'s Community Oral History Toolkit.