Special Collections -- Iowa

Library Policies

Des Moines Public Library

Special Collections

Des Moines and Iowa Collection

Preservation of local history relating to Des Moines, Polk County and a lesser extent, Iowa, is the responsibility of the Library. The objective is to acquire and preserve local history--past and present, including not only printed books but also clippings, mimeographed materials, manuscripts, etc.

Special Collections

Requests for the establishment of specially endowed collections will be considered by the board, in keeping with the philosophy of the library and the materials selection policy.

If it further understood that such collections may be terminated at a future date if the board determines they have outlived their usefulness or become too costly too maintain.

Terms of each established special collection will be stated as part of this policy.

A.B. Turner Shelf

The A.B. Turner shelf was established by a gift of A.T.& T. stock for the purpose of maintaining a collection of biographical material relating to personalities of note in the fields of politics, public service and the arts. The dividends from this stock, which has now been converted to U.S. West (due to the breakup of A.T.& T.), are used to make purchases for this collection. The stock itself remains as the principle of the endowment and as such is to be kept intact.

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Collecting and preserving material on local history is an important program of the Burlington Public Library. As an institution established for the purpose of acquiring, classifying and maintaining materials of public interest the Library actively seeks and promotes the use of materials pertinent to Burlington, Des Moines County and Iowa, with a special emphasis on the immediate area. Such materials properly belong in the library, and since researchers naturally tend to rely on the library for such items, and due to the expertise of the staff and public accessibility, individuals and organizations should be encouraged to contribute these materials to the library rather than acquiring them for personal collections or for museums which are not established for this purpose. If the Library maintains an active part in this effort, and with cooperation from the community, the Library can develop a local history collection that will serve our present needs as well as for the many generations to follow.

What is Collected

A wide range of materials in various formats are appropriate for the local history collection, but above all they must be highly relevant to the Burlington area or the state of Iowa. For reasons of library organization, security, and accessibility, local history materials are placed in either of two areas: the Grimes-Salter Collection or the Iowa Alcove.

The Grimes-Salter Collection is comprised of archival materials which includes primary source documents, rare materials and items that require special storage conditions. The Grimes-Salter Room is a high security area and materials can only be used with special permission. Items in this room never circulate outside the building and only occasionally are used outside the room.

The Iowa Alcove includes general information and secondary sources on local and state history, and books on Iowa by Iowa authors. This section in the upper stacks is closed to the public, although most materials can be used in the library and many can be circulated outside the building. Types of materials for these areas are outlined below.

Grimes-Salter Collection

• City directories (Burlington)
• High school annuals (Burlington)
• Telephone directories (Burlington)
• Plat books, maps
• Chamber of Commerce publications
• Local authors (Des Moines County)
• House organs and newsletters (local businesses, BMC publications, Atomic Vets)
• City and county government publications
• Organization publications (League of Women voters, Art Guild)
• Survey done by or for the city
• Letters, diaries, ledgers, account books and pictures
• Post cards
• Photographs
• Oral history tapes

Iowa Alcove

• Burlington history (books, pamphlets, clippings)
• Des Moines County history (books, pamphlets, clippings)
• Other county histories
• Books on Iowa by Iowa authors (excluding local authors)
• State government publications
• State periodicals (history)

What is not Collected

Certain materials are inappropriate to the local history collection, and thereby inappropriate for the library collection as a whole, and will not be accepted by the Library. The only possible exception is in the category of furnishings which must be appropriate and fill a specific need.

Items Not Accepted

• Artifacts
• Memorabilia
• Furnishings
• Documents related to other state and national concerns
• Entire libraries or collection of an individual or organization
• Permanent displays
• Any items more properly belonging in a museum
• Rare books and rare materials if not pertinent to Burlington, Des Moines County, the Mississippi Valley or Westward Expansion

Genealogy Materials

Genealogy is the study of the lineage and history of individuals of families and is generally considered to be distinct from local history as regards the classification of library materials. There is no doubt that local history materials are an invaluable aid in genealogical research, but the great mass of genealogical publications are outside the bounds of local history and these collection should never be combined physically.

For reasons of security, however, genealogy materials that are highly pertinent to Burlington, Des Moines County and Iowa are placed in the Grimes-Salter Room. Such works include: Burlington city directories, various county histories, vital statistics, cemetery records, biographies and histories of local individuals or families, and other related materials. Copies of such materials should be available to the public at all times but the original source material will be retained in the GrimesSalter room and its use shall follow the established rules for this room.

Disposition Of Unwanted Material

Unless a prior written agreement exists, the Library retains the right to determine the disposition of all material purchased by or given to the Library. Such material may be donated to another library or organization, moved to a more proper location in the Library (including storage), discarded outright or sold.

Materials of historical significance to another locality should be offered to a library in that locality without charge when conditions permit. Materials of a broader interest should be offered to the institution in which it is most likely to be used, such as a state university, historical society, or national research library.

Purpose of the Grimes-Salter Room

The Grimes-Salter Room is primarily a repository for local history archives; as such, the materials are kept in locked cabinets under proper conditions for long term storage. A secondary purpose for the room is a meeting place, and indeed it is the only room available in the Library for this purpose.

Items kept in the Grimes-Salter Room are considered irreplaceable and are not to be used outside the room. No item should ever leave the room, nor should any patron be allowed to use the materials in the room without the written consent of the Director. In the absence of the Director, or if the Director cannot be contacted the room is considered closed; only the staff can use the room but no material can be taken out by staff or public. The loss of material from this and careless handling in the past make any deviation from these regulations unacceptable. The Library accepts the responsibility as caretaker of these resources and preservation is of primary importance in this mission.

Collection development is also essential to the local history collection and the Library will take an active role in soliciting materials and encouraging donations for the Grimes-Salter Room to ensure the acquisition of material that may otherwise be lost to future use.

posted February 18, 2000