Preservation of Eastern Shore Public Library Archives

FAIN: PG-263398-19

Eastern Shore Public Library Foundation (Accomac, VA 23301-0554)
Cara Jane Burton (Project Director: April 2018 to March 2021)

A preservation needs assessment for more than 1,000 volumes, 500 rolls of microfilm, and 350 linear feet of manuscripts, published materials, and photographs documenting the history of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, and preservation training for area cultural heritage organizations.  The collection includes manuscript records of antebellum yeoman farmers, important area businesses, and an 1885 railroad-adjacent planned community; photographs of Eastern Shore scenes in the 1890s; a dozen local newspapers continuously collected since the 19^th century; and a comprehensive collection of books written about the area.  Recent bequests augment the library’s collections on local and African American history and genealogy.  The planned assessment would assist the applicant in planning a new library and heritage center.

Eastern Shore Public Library Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, financially supports the mission of the Eastern Shore Public Library. The Eastern Shore Public Library (ESPL), which serves Accomack and Northampton Counties on Virginia’s Eastern Shore peninsula, has a unique local history and archives collection frequently used by historians, authors, and genealogists. ESPL proposes to hire a preservation consultant from LYRASIS to conduct a preservation needs assessment of collections and conduct training on their care and handling. ESPL’s archives include documents detailing the Shore’s rich history from its Native Americans’ European contact in the 17th century to the present, including documents about the “culture of manumission” unique to this area. ESPL’s goal through this project is to assess the collection, create plans for its preservation, and train staff and volunteers to ensure they are available to students, humanities scholars, and the community in then care and handling.

Associated Products

Eastern Shore Public Library Preservation Site Reort (Report)
Title: Eastern Shore Public Library Preservation Site Reort
Author: Leigh A. Grinstead, LYRASIS, 1438 W. Peachtree Street NW, Atlantic GA 30309
Abstract: The NEH PAG project goals were to hire a consultant to conduct a preservation needs assessment of the local history and archives collection to: 1. Assess existing ESPL archival collections 2. Create a preservation plan that includes planning priorities and access to the collection, and 3. Trains ESPL and members of the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA) Museum Network to learn best practices for care and handling of materials. A report was generated as a result of a one-day workshop and study by the consultant resulting in many near-term recommendations to move forward with collections care at the current library. However, from the consultant's perspective, the move to a new facility in Parksley will be absolutely critical for the long-term care and preservation and access of the collections.
Date: 06/27/2019

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