Capture local & family stories with oral history kits

Get ready to share your stories and capture your family stories. We're super excited to introduce our new Oral History Kits for check out starting in October! You can borrow one of six different Oral History Kits: two complete kits with video cameras, two audio-only kits and two kits that work with your smartphone.

We already help you explore your family roots with awesome local resources and these kits are going to take things to the next level. Imagine bringing history to life by capturing the amazing stories, personal experiences and unique perspectives of the people who actually lived through it!

The value of oral histories

Official reports only tell part of the story. Oral histories fill in the blanks by giving us firsthand accounts, helping us truly understand how events were seen and felt by those who were there. It's about putting a human face on history, hearing those untold stories and even discovering new perspectives that might challenge what we thought we knew. Plus, for communities that have always shared their history through spoken words, oral history is absolutely vital for keeping those traditions, knowledge and memories alive. It helps us all see how the past shapes our present and gives us a richer appreciation for history's fascinating layers.

Even though we live in a world where we see trends and opinions everywhere online, oral histories are still incredibly important. They give a voice to those whose stories might otherwise be missed, get us thinking critically, build empathy and connection, and focus on the respectful preservation of memories. Every single person's story is valuable, whether they're famous or not! At the library we believe oral history is a powerful way to celebrate and understand individual experiences, creating a more complete and representative picture of the past, and enriching our shared human history.

Sneak peek event Sept 17

You can get a sneak peek of the kits with me at Creating Oral Histories, Wed, Sept 17, 6-7:30pm, Menninger Room. You'll learn how they work, hear about our hopes for these kits and get some hands-on experience! Register to attend. 

We can't wait to hear what you discover!