NMCC library purchases exhibit display cases
PRESQUE ISLE – A grant from the Maine Humanities Council to purchase exhibit display cases will make it possible for the E. Perrin Edmunds Library at Northern Maine Community College to host more community and historical exhibits on campus.
NORTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Assistant Dean of Learning Resources Gail Roy, left, and Librarian Kim Ferguson place historic books dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s, on loan from the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library’s special collection, into one of the new display cases purchased by the college through a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.
The matching $3,500 humanities infrastructure grant has provided for the purchase of three glass enclosed display cases that will greatly expand the types of collections and exhibits the NMCC library can house on a temporary basis. In recent years, the facility has hosted an increasing number of art and photography exhibits in an effort to both showcase the community to students, faculty and staff and to provide additional opportunity for community members to visit the campus.
“We are very grateful to the Maine Humanities Council for this grant opportunity,” said Gail Roy, NMCC assistant dean of learning resources. “The new display cases make it possible for us to expand the type of material we can borrow from other institutions. The addition of exhibits gives visitors yet another reason to come to the library. Plans are under way to offer many interesting exhibits during the upcoming academic year.”
According to Roy, the cases will be used to display objects that will include books, letters, artifacts, maps and atlases. The items will be loaned from local institutions initially, but future plans are to borrow from other museums, libraries, and historical societies throughout the state of Maine.
“Loaning materials to our library in northern Maine would be one way that other institutions could share their collections and provide educational opportunities to students and community members outside their immediate service area,” said Roy.
With two of the new display cases ordered and installed in the library, Roy and Librarian Kim Ferguson have worked with the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle to coordinate the inaugural exhibit which will be on display throughout the month of July.
A loan of more than a dozen books, dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s, from the public library’s special collection are now placed in cases for patrons and community members to view. Some of the titles on display include: “Historical Sketch and Roster of the Aroostook War” (1839/1904), “History of Maine” (1875), “Views of Fort Fairfield, Maine” (1889), and “Arnold’s Expedition to Quebec” (1901).
During the month of August, the Presque Isle Historical Society will loan items from their collection. Other local libraries, historical societies, museums and holders of special collections will also partner with the NMCC library to loan items for display in the coming months.
In addition to artifacts and other related displays from outside organizations, the cases will be used in the coming years to showcase items from NMCC’s own archives as the institution prepares for its 50th anniversary in 2011-2013.
“We are looking to provide programs and displays that will engage our students and offer them information to encourage further reading and research on a wide range of topics,” said Roy.
Depending on the materials borrowed for displays, Roy anticipates inviting local scholars to the campus in the future to augment the exhibits with printed materials and presentations on related topics.
The Maine Humanities Council provides the Humanities Infrastructure Grants through the New Century Community Program’s bond funds. The awards are designated to support long-term or permanent infrastructure projects, including interpretive signage, museum exhibits, interpretive equipment and websites.
For more information on the current exhibit or discuss possible future exhibits, contact Roy at 768-2734 or by e-mail at groy@nmcc.edu.
