Mind the Gaps (in Research)
One of my biggest gaps in research came from the fact that many of the Board Meeting Minutes, which I had hoped to use as a primary source for my timeline, are currently missing. I utilized the somewhat scattered minutes that were available from the library's opening, though the beginning of 1952, along with a couple books of newspaper clippings that someone had gathered.
However, the minutes from Board meetings between 1952 through around 1983 (the last time the library changed locations) are missing. It could be they were left behind in a previous building and were subsequently forgotten or destroyed. It could simply be that they are housed in the basement storage and have not yet been located. Additionally, the minutes between 1992 and 2002 are also currently missing.
I did not have the time to thoroughly peruse the library board minutes that were available from 1983 through 1992. I was told they were in the basement somewhere, but had not had a chance to go looking for them, nor would I have been certain where to start looking. The minutes between 2002 and 2012 are available through an employee of the library who has begun keeping a more accurate record, but they are not yet housed in the history room.
However, the minutes from Board meetings between 1952 through around 1983 (the last time the library changed locations) are missing. It could be they were left behind in a previous building and were subsequently forgotten or destroyed. It could simply be that they are housed in the basement storage and have not yet been located. Additionally, the minutes between 1992 and 2002 are also currently missing.
I did not have the time to thoroughly peruse the library board minutes that were available from 1983 through 1992. I was told they were in the basement somewhere, but had not had a chance to go looking for them, nor would I have been certain where to start looking. The minutes between 2002 and 2012 are available through an employee of the library who has begun keeping a more accurate record, but they are not yet housed in the history room.