press play: local history via slideshows and streaming video

A local history collection is a unique and valuable asset to thelibrary and the community. Learn how the Chelsea District Librarycreated a website to highlight and improve access to their community’shistory. StoriesofChelsea.org was developed by a non-technologylibrarian as an online access point for local history resources. Itincorporates the old and the new of Chelsea, where historical photosare exhibited alongside video archives of a popular local cabletelevision show. StoriesofChelsea.org is also an avenue for promotinglibrary-created content by serving as the home of the library’s oralhistory project. This project uses video to record oral histories onthe various topics including one room schoolhouses, WWII veterans,farmers and local landmarks and produce feature-length documentaries.Both the individual interviews and completed documentaries areavailable to stream from StoriesofChelsa.org. This presentation isabout identifying the gems in your local history collection andcreating a forum to give them maximum exposure, without compromisingtheir fragile physical state, using free or affordable user-friendlytechnology resources. Preserving and exhibiting local historydigitally can be an effective and simple way to showcase yourresources and connect with your community