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Archival

Archival Collection Development Policy

Governing the Pebley Center and online historical collections

Description of the Collection

The Pebley Center is a place where students, faculty, and citizens from area communities may gather to research local historical and cultural resources in a user friendly environment. The Robert S. Wilder Historical Collection served as the core holdings and early local history titles and cultural artifacts will be acquired in the future to build the collection. The archives of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith and the Oral History Project tapes will also be major resources in the Center.

Key projects of the Center will be to index the publications of local interest. This indexing will add substantial value for research purposes. Digitizing many fragile items now owned to preserve for future generations will be another endeavor. Many items currently owned will not withstand being handled without being permanently damaged.

Users

The collection is accessible to scholars, faculty, students, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith administrators and staff, donors, journalists, and the general public.

Persons wishing to use the collections must register and present identification.

Selection Criteria

Material is acquired primarily by donation after the initial funds from the Pebley bequest are used.

The Pebley Collection will accept materials with a legal transfer of title, deed of gift, or other official acknowledgement.

Patron will provide a typed inventory prior to acceptance. The Boreham Library requires a two month evaluation period to accept or reject full or partial donations.

Oral history interviews will be accessible to patrons only after a signed release by the interviewee is on file.

Selection of materials, including acceptance of gifts, rests with the professional library staff and the Pebley Collection Committee composed of selected University of Arkansas - Fort Smith faculty.

Materials collected:

  • Local archival materials determined to be of enduring value.

  • History of Fort Smith and the following counties in priority rank:

    • Sebastian County and Crawford County
    • Franklin County and Scott County
    • LeFlore County and Sequoyah Counties - Oklahoma
    • Washington County and Johnson County

  • Biographies of local interest

  • Histories of companies

  • Histories of buildings and architectural styles

  • History of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith

While the Library will make every effort to meet the collection criteria, adequate funding, staff time, and facilities must be available.

Availability of items in the Fort Smith Public Library or other archive collections will be considered, but will not prohibit duplication in the Pebley Collection if the item is considered a priority.

Formats

Material is acquired regardless of format, including electronic records.

Special Considerations

The Boreham Library recognizes it has a long-term commitment to archival materials in its care, and that the removal of materials will only be done under special circumstances in order not to deter potential donors. If the library wishes to withdraw any archival material, these procedures should be followed:

  1. Offer material to other institutions collecting in the same subject area.
  2. If no other institution wishes to take the material, the Library may dispose of the material according to normal withdrawal criteria, and in consultation with the donor where feasible.

Exhibitions and displays featuring archives and manuscripts are recognized as useful educational and promotional opportunities as long as environmental guidelines and security controls are in place. Where this is not possible, the use of facsimiles for display is advised.