Local History Room Policy

Mission Statement

The mission of the Local History Room is to collect, preserve, and make accessible materials with historical significance to the Town of Billerica, as well as supporting materials from surrounding towns, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and elsewhere that inform Billerica’s history and development. These materials are available to researchers and the  public to answer as many research questions on Billerica genealogy and history as possible. The Billerica Public Library holds these materials in trust for future generations, and therefore they can be examined only in the Local History Room.

Collection Development/Scope

The collection’s major emphasis is material of historical significance to Billerica. Subject areas include early settlers, family, business, work, education, government, environment, development, and prominent individuals and events.

The collection houses materials in a various  formats including, but not limited to, books, broadsides, manuscripts, maps, artwork, microfilm, newspapers, pamphlets, photographs, postcards, serials, town government documents, audio cassettes, videocassettes, CDs, DVDs and other electronic formats.  The collection also contains minutes of the Town of Billerica’s departments and committees, as required by the Town Charter.

Genealogies of families whose members have lived in Billerica and materials that may assist with genealogical research are included. Town annual reports, local high school yearbooks, street lists, maps, phone books, voter registration lists, vital records of Massachusetts’ towns, local cemetery catalogs, and microfilm of Billerica newspapers are some specific examples of the collection.

 The collection may include multiple copies of exceptional, irreplaceable, or one-of-a-kind items. Three-dimensional artifacts may also be collected.

Gifts

Gifts to the Billerica Public Library are considered outright and unrestricted donations, which may be used in any manner that is deemed to be in the best interest of the Library. Donations to the Billerica Public Library are tax deductible but the Library will not appraise donations for tax purposes or incur the cost of such appraisals. It is recommended that, if desired, appraisals be completed before the item is conveyed to the Library.

Upon signing a Deed of Gift, the donor(s) understands that the donated article(s) will be retained in the collection only as long as they remain useful for the mission and purposes of the Local History Room or the Billerica Public Library. If conditions warrant such action, the Library may keep, discard, exchange, or sell the donated property at some future date without notice to the donor in accordance with the Library’s established policies.

The donor further certifies that they are the lawful owner(s), have the right to donate the material to the Billerica Public Library, and that the article is free of liens and encumbrances.

Room Use

All patrons are encouraged to visit the Local History Room to perform historical or genealogical research. The collection is an educational resource for community  teachers, students, residents, and visitors, promoting a more significant appreciation of Billerica’s rich history.Many items in the collection are fragile or irreplaceable so care and consideration must be used. The following procedures must be followed:

1. The Local History Room is open to the public during regular library hours.
2. Patrons using the Local History Room must sign in and out at the Reference Desk, where they must leave identification.
3. Only pencils are permitted for taking notes when using Local History Room resources.
4. No food or drink is permitted in the Local History Room.
5. Patrons are asked to leave the materials they have used on the table in the Local History Room so that staff members can re-shelve items in their proper place and keep track of the number of items used.
6. Photocopying or digitally photographing  some of the Local History collection is permitted as long as the copying complies with federal copyright laws. It is the researcher’s responsibility to understand and observe copyright law. Researchers should ask before photocopying or photographing anything from the Local History collection. Any use in publications and papers should include citations of the specific item(s) used and references to the Billerica Public Library.
7. The Library microfilm/microfiche reader is available for public use. If requested, basic instructions for use will be given. Reels must be rewound and returned to the correct box after use. Patrons with their own reels are allowed use of the microfilm reader.

Revised and adopted by a vote of the Board of Library Trustees on September 9, 2019, as amended on September 9, 2024