How can we use digital repositories to locate history sources?
For many researchers, local history work is that which is done in the community – at their local libraries and in their attics and basements. Local history is a way to engage community members with collections, strengthen ties between your institution and the community, and meet community members where they are most passionate–their local/family stories. However, to answer research questions about local history requires you to turn your attention to the collections of state and national repositories which can supplement or extend the material available locally.
For this program, you will have participants complete a digital scavenger hunt to find the following four items:
- A recipe for ice cream from 1915
- A map of your town (or vicinity) from the 19th century
- A film clip depicting a historical event from your town or state
- A newspaper published in your town or nearby community in the 19th century
See the Activity Resource Sheet for suggestions of digital repositories to search.
If your library does not have the technology to support digital research, consider modifying this activity to be a physical scavenger hunt within your space, teaching patrons how to use finding aids and catalogs to locate primary sources within your own collection.
Activity resource sheet: Digital Local History (docx); Digital Local History (pdf)
Identifying Online Material You Can Use
How do you determine whether the material you find online is under copyright or is in the public domain and is free to use?
In this activity you will assess whether three online sources are under copyright or in the public domain and freely available for use. In order to determine whether the content is in the public domain, use the following questions and the flow chart on the Activity Resource Sheet to guide your assessment:
- Is the work published?
- Has the copyright expired?
- Was the work published without a copyright notice?
- Has the copyright been renewed?
- Has the copyright owner placed the material in the public domain?
- Is this type of work protected by copyright?
- Do you have to agree to terms of use when you access the material? Do those terms of use restrict you from publishing the material?
Finally, answer the question: Can this material be used freely without permission or attribution?
You may pick any three items from your library’s digital collection. If you have questions about copyright, an excellent resource from Cornell University is “Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States.” There are also a number of helpful charts and tools from Stanford University Libraries.