Whenever I start a new investigation one of my first stops is the local library as I begin the process of learning about a community and its history. These unique institutions contain an astonishing variety of materials that help anyone puzzling together evidentiary traces of earlier times. No matter how small, they always have local titles and a knowledgeable staff able to direct me to special resources and subject matter experts. Many also have a room or stacks dedicated entirely to the region’s genealogy and history.
So whenever I am working on a Delaware project, I visit the many fine libraries from Claymont to Delmar and every place in between. These institutions provide superior patron services, the materials are of great help, and I am often surprised by the treasures in special collections.
Recently the State Division of Libraries produced a video highlighting the ways the First State’s libraries help anyone delving into Delaware’s past, whether it is for a school paper, family history research, or something else. There are plenty of treasures in those stacks and I was pleased to talk with the videographers at Content Delaware about the valuable resources I have used for my research while puzzling out the story about the past in our communities.
Community libraries are one of the great places to start when you need to know your history.