Gunn Memorial Library Inc

PRESERVING LOCAL HISTORY: DEVELOPING A COLLECTIONS STORAGE PLAN AT THE GUNN MEMORIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM [THE GUNN MEMORIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM (GMLM) IS PROPOSING A ONE YEAR PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A COLLECTIONS STORAGE REORGANIZATION PROJECT. WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT, THE MUSEUM PLANS TO HAVE A COLLECTIONS STORAGE ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED AND HOST PRESERVATION TRAINING SESSIONS FOR ITS VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART OF THE MUSEUM?S OPERATIONS AND TRAINING WILL ALLOW THEM TO TAKE PART IN THE REORGANIZATION PROJECT WITH KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT BEST PRACTICES. OUR DIVERSE COLLECTIONS TELL THE STORY OF A RURAL NEW ENGLAND TOWN. A TOWN BORN OUT OF OTHER TOWNS, CREATED BY PEOPLE SEEKING RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC FREEDOMS. A STORY WHICH IS BOTH UNIQUE AND YET REPEATED THROUGHOUT AMERICA. THE COLLECTIONS RANGE WIDELY FROM 3D OBJECTS, TEXTILES, RARE BOOKS, AND ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP PRESERVE THESE VAST COLLECTIONS AND MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS OUTSIDE RESEARCHERS INTERESTED IN EARLY CONNECTICUT HISTORY.]