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Board advances plan to collect local stories, propose oral‑history program and traveling exhibit
Summary
Vice‑Chair Dr. Brandi Porter outlined a multi‑year plan to grow Botetourt Memory and local‑history programming: draft a digital collection policy, run Year‑1 oral‑history work with colleges and Library of Virginia archiving options, and host traveling exhibits in partnership with at least one organization.
The board reviewed proposed actions to implement Strategic Priority #4, focused on collecting and showcasing local stories, photos and family histories. Vice‑Chair Dr. Brandi Porter presented a handout outlining steps: staff are reviewing current Botetourt Memory practices, drafting a digital collection development policy, targeting collection growth, evaluating repository software and pursuing at least one partner to host a traveling local‑history exhibit.
Porter and staff proposed a Year‑1 oral‑history process that would identify potential interviewees, seek partnerships with colleges for recording and outreach, and evaluate archiving options including the Library of Virginia. Years 2–3 goals include creating a resident family‑history toolkit, conducting and archiving interviews and holding annual 'Record Your Story' sessions. Trustees stressed the importance of partnerships, finding grant funding and logistics for long‑term preservation.
Branch staff reported recent usage of local‑history spaces: between April 13 and May 8, Eagle Rock's Local History Room recorded 24 general uses and 3 local‑history research instances; Fincastle's Genealogy Room recorded 8 general uses and 9 genealogy research instances (noted as an unusually slow period). Staff will pair with trustees to refine an implementation plan and return an updated outline at the next meeting.
