Purpose and Scope of the Local History Collection
The purpose of the local history collection is to preserve materials that document the history of the village of Oakfield and the surrounding areas in Fond du Lac and northern Dodge Counties and to make these materials available to researchers and the general public. Subject areas include: early settlers, ethnic groups, family, business, work, and prominent individuals and events.
The library will collect books, documents, maps, memorabilia, genealogical records of founding families, slides, newspapers, news clippings, identified and some unidentified photographs (framed and unframed) for the local history collection.
Selection Criteria
- Relevance to the history of the Oakfield area
- Uniqueness and historical value of the item
- Physical condition of the item
- Space constraints for storage of the item
- Time needed to arrange the collection for use
- Signed “Deed of Gift” form
Gifts
The library welcomes donations to its local history collection. All donated materials must be free of dirt, mold, moisture, and pests and should be in good condition. Three dimensional objects may be accepted if they fit the scope of the collection and do not require special storage and preservation needs.
Materials that do not fit within our collection policy may be referred to local historical societies. The library reserves the right to decline gift offers.
Donors must sign a “Deed of Gift” transferring ownership, and copyright, if applicable, to the Oakfield Public Library. The donor and the library each retain a copy of the deed of gift.
Download the Donor Record and Deed of Gift form
Once a donation has been made, the library reserves the right to decide how the donated item will be displayed or stored, how the item may be used by the public, and how long the item will be retained. Materials in the Local History Collection may be scanned and placed on the internet for viewing, may be moved to another location within the library, and may be withdrawn from the collection if deemed no longer appropriate to the collection.
Access
The Local History Collection is mainly housed in the Local History Area, which is open for public use during normal library hours. Every effort is made to make the collection as accessible to the public as possible, but due to the nature of this collection, some materials may be non-circulating and must be used inside the library.
Library staff may refuse to allow the handling, scanning, or photocopying of fragile material. Some materials may be protected by copyright. Patrons assume all responsibility for possible infringement of copyright and invasion of privacy and other rights that may arise in the use of the materials copied. The copyright law (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of reproductions of copyrighted materials.
Preservation and Maintenance
Local history materials, when appropriate will be preserved in acid-free folders, enclosures, and containers. The collection will be maintained in a clean, safe, and secure environment to the best extent possible.
Discarding Materials
The Oakfield Public Library reserves the right to withdraw materials that do not fit within the scope of the Local History Collection. Withdrawn items may be returned to donors, offered to other depositories, or discarded.
Approved by the Oakfield Public Library Board – April 20, 2016