Colleen Layton

Dr. Mary Pat Fallon

LIS 703
22 April 2020

1. My topic is local history collections, to be taught to colleagues at a public library. I will

not only explain what a local history collection is, but why they are important and how
best to assemble one. I believe this topic is important to discuss because local history col-
lections are becoming very popular tools for community building.
2. The goal for this lesson is to teach my colleagues the definition, purpose, importance, and
design of local history collections.
3. Expected Learning Outcomes:
A. Define a local history collection
B. Choose appropriate resources for a local history collection
C. Defend the importance of local history collections
4. Lesson Plan:
D. Introduction- who I am, who my colleagues are (public librarians) and what we will
be discussing (local history collections), 30s
E. What are local history collections? 2m
a) Pre-assessment check: Can anyone define a local history collection?
b) AKA local history reference collections
c) Defining jurisdiction
d) Items to include
F. Why are local history collections important? 2m
a) Community
b) Partnerships
c) Promotion
G. Who creates a local history collection? 2m
a) Lack of MLIS training
b) Need for locale-specific training
c) Skills from multiple disciplines
d) Research AND customer service
H. How to create a local history collection… 2m
a) Jurisdiction, space, budget
b) Controversy
c) Preservation
 d) What NOT to include
e) Policy
I. Active Learning Activity, 2m
J. Wrap Up, Any Questions? 1m
a) E-mail
b)
c) Post-Lesson Reflection
5. The lesson will engage visual and auditory learners through the visual presentation with
pictures and notes in the form of a Powerpoint and the accompanying auditory presenta-
tion that I will deliver. Both solitary and social learners will benefit from the Active
Learning Component, which allocates some time for personal reflection as well as the op-
portunity to share. The colleague who shares, as well as those who respond to my ques-
tions throughout the presentation, will have the opportunity to engage in verbal learning
to some extent.
6. I aim to meet the frameworks of ‘Information Creation as Process’ and ‘Information has
Value’. The former is supported in that colleagues will be asked to consider how to con-
vey local history information via resource selection and the latter is supported because it
will discuss the ways in which those same resources will educate and influence the com-
munity at large.
7. My active learning component asks colleagues to consider a locale familiar to them (i.e.
their current neighborhood, where they grew up, etc.) and think of three items that would
be appropriate to include in a local history collection. I will ask someone to share their
imaginary collection and give an explanation as to why they chose their items (3ms).
8. There are three phases to my assessment:
2. A ‘pretest’ check in, of sorts, where I ask a classmate to share three words they asso-
ciate with local history collections. This will get the entire class to consider what they
already know about the subject.
3. The active learning component is also a method of assessment. As it comes at the end
of the lesson, it will test students’ comprehension of the topics considered and allow
them to apply their understandings.
4. The post-lesson reflection (link will be shared at the end of the lesson) will provide
an opportunity to reflect on the lesson in comparison to the ‘pretest’ check in and
highlight any areas of concern or continued interest. I will try to respond to students
who ask for additional resources with materials from my own research: https://form-
s.gle/s9zBPLqwnHJuq7BX6
9. Bibliography of sources used to prepare the lesson: please see the next page.
 Works Cited

Dewe, M. (2016). Local Studies Collection Management. Routledge.

Dixon, D. (2011). From Manuscripts to Metadata: The Changing Face of Local Studies
Librarianship. APLIS, 24(2), 74-81.

Marquis, K., & Waggener, L. (2015). WHAT TO COLLECT? Building a local history reference
collection at your library. American Libraries, 46(7/8), 26–29.

Marquis, K., & Waggener, L. (2011). Historical Collections Is Adding One Right for Your
Public Library? Public Libraries, 50(2), 42–48.

RUSA Guidelines for Establishing Local History Collections. (2012). Reference and User
Services Quarterly, 52(1), 59.