Information & FAQ

One of the primary way our collections grow is by individual donations. We are interested in collecting materials from all time periods to help document the rich history of this area.

We are especially interested in materials that are in good condition, with no restrictions on use.  We are also able to scan photographs and return the originals to you.

If we are not the right repository for your collection, we will try to help you find an appropriate institution. Please contact the Archivist if you would like to make a donation.

As an interested party in a possible donation, Boynton Beach City Library staff are prohibited from providing appraisals of donated materials in any way.  A list of qualified appraisers is available through the Appraisers Association website. It is the responsibility of the donor to select one, secure the appraisers’ services, and pay for the appraisal. 

There is a great deal of information on safe handling and storage of documents and photographs, and everything else! Be sure to evaluate the source of your information: is the source credible, are they trying to sell you a product or service?  The National Archives is an excellent source of information for handling of archival materials.

The basic guidelines for handling archival materials are simple:

• Store the material somewhere that the temperature won’t change much. So, take the material out of the attic or basement and store it in the main part of the house. 
• Store the material in clean, archival quality boxes, folders, and/or quality plastic sleeves. This can be as simple as a Mylar sleeve or an acid-free folder. There are kits and supplies available from several providers. A couple of good sources include:
  • University Products
  • Hollinger Metal Edge
• Be sure to record identifications on the back of each photo, or on labels you can affix to the back if you’re afraid your writing or ink might bleed through.
• Use clean hands or clean cotton gloves when you handle your materials. Fingers leave oils and dirt, especially on photographs.
• Separate moldy items and store in air-tight bags! You may even consider making a copy of moldy items and discarding the original. Mold spreads easily to other materials.

Make an appointment with the archivist, Georgen Charnes, and she'll help you. Click on the "Archives Contact" link on the side menu.

The Local History Archive is located at the Boynton Beach City Library, at 100 E. Ocean Ave., open Monday through Friday. We offer excellent assistance through email as well.

We love people to use our collections! Just contact the archivist and she can help you out.  She can pull out some items that you might be interested in. Also, check out our growing collection of images available online.

If this is for personal use, we can deliver a digital image. Use in publications may involve a fee. We do not offer reproduction services.

We will ask you to fill out a form with contact information and outlining some Terms of Use:

• Permission is for one-time, one-project use only
• Photographs may be cropped to suit design and layout, but they may not be altered, colorized, or drawn upon without prior written agreement.
• Images are not to be resold without prior written agreement.
• Credit must be given to the Boynton Beach City Library with the credit line “From the Collection of the Boynton Beach City Library” and to the creator of the original work, if known. Credit must appear on or below the image, or in a designated credit section. 
• Boynton Beach City Library reserves the right to decline permission to requestors who have not complied with these conditions or whose use is deemed inappropriate. 
• Boynton Beach City Library assumes no responsibility for infraction of copyright laws, invasion of privacy or any other improper or illegal use that may arise from reproduction of any collection materials. Requestor assumes full and sole responsibility for the use of the duplication and shall pay and indemnify and hold Boynton Beach City Library or the City of Boynton Beach and its agents harmless from and against all claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses, and liabilities of every kind (including attorneys' fees) arising out of the requestor's use, or out of the requestor's breach or alleged breach of the use or license agreement. 
• In some cases, the Boynton Beach City Library will request that a copy of the finished product be donated to our collections.