Bloomfield History Collection Preservation Assessment

FAIN: PG-51034-10

Prosser Public Library (Bloomfield, CT 06002-2415)
Laura Vasselle (Project Director: May 2009 to December 2011)

A general preservation assessment of historical materials about the town and the purchase of storage supplies as recommended by the consultant. The historical collection includes 150 18th- and 19th-century books remaining from the subscription libraries that preceded the public library; scrapbooks about early 19th- and 20th-century life in Bloomfield; newspapers, photographs, architectural drawings, and films.

The Bloomfield History Collection contains 1500 books, newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, framed and unframed photographs, films and objects from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, related to the Town of Bloomfield, CT. In 1963, the historical collection was moved off-site while the Town razed the old library building and built a new one. During this time, the temporary storage facility experienced a fire. Most of the historical collection was destroyed. In October 2005, the current library was the victim of a 100-year flood of Wash Brook. The most important items in the historical collection were not damaged. We stored the materials in a "safe" spot in the library until we could make proper arrangements for their protection and use. We have now cleared a former meeting room to house the historical collection. We seek funding for a "General Preservation Assessment", which will help us to better protect, store, and use our small but precious collection.