Buncombe County Special Collections (BCSC) at Pack Memorial Library will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 21, and starting in November will be making minor changes in their operating hours. Continue reading to learn more about these changes.
BCSC partners with YMI Cultural Center
The upcoming Oct. 19 and Oct. 21 closures are part of a collaboration between Special Collections staff and the YMI Cultural Center to begin processing of archival materials held by the YMI as they begin a $6.1 million renovation project. “We are excited for the opportunity to use our services to preserve the YMI’s wealth of historical documents for generations to come,” says Special Collections Manager Katherine Cutshall.
This collaboration is part of BCSC’s Black Asheville History Project. The packing and organizing that will happen next week is the first phase of a much larger initiative. Over the next several years the YMI and BCSC will be work together to ensure the historical documents housed at the YMI are preserved and available for the community and researchers to utilize for years to come. The Friends of Special Collections have budgeted $1500 to provide materials support for the first phase of the project.
Changes to Special Collections Hours and Operations
Staring the first week of November, BCSC will close at 6 p.m., rather than 8 p.m. “Following a short study of visitor’s preferences, closing at 6 p.m. will be a better allocation of resources and staff time,” notes Cutshall. The move will allow BCSC to offer Monday hours by appointment only. Schedule a research appointment at packnc@buncombecounty.org or (828) 250-4740. Find current hours on the website.
Additionally, BCSC will be closed for one week on a quarterly basis to ensure staff has ample time to complete a backlog of archival work. “Special Collections staff will be working hard in the archives during these quarterly closures,” says Cutshall “BCSC staff care for thousands of unique historical documents, so it is critical that our staff have plenty of time to arrange, describe, and conserve these precious materials.” The public may visit by appointment only during that time by contacting Special Collections staff.
BCSC’s first quarterly closure is Nov. 27-Dec. 4. Additional information about quarterly closures will be shared on the BCSC Facebook page, Special Collections Blog, and the library events calendar.
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