HomeCollection Development Policy

Collection Development Policy

Purpose of Collection

Rockvale High School in Rockvale, TN, is creating a digital collection of memorabilia to honor the history of the community and the school. Rockvale Community Consolidated School was open from 1927 to 1972; Rockvale and several other small community schools closed when the county opened two new, larger high schools. Many materials from the old school were housed in the Rockvale Community Center since the closing and donated to Rockvale High School when it opened in 2019. Along with the items stored at the community center, members of the community and alumni from the old school also donated items. As a way to share those items with the greater community, as well as the former, present, and future students of Rockvale Community Consolidated School and Rockvale High School, the current leadership at the school are working to digitize and share the various school trophies, photographs, yearbooks, and other donated materials. This collection serves as a reflection of the school’s history. It shows where they came from, where they are going, and the pride the community has for the school. The collection allows the community and alumni to remember and reflect on their time at the school. This collection also serves as a way to unite the old school to the new. Knowing about the history of the school is one way to connect many individuals; collecting and adding items from the present preserves them for future students as well. 

Community 

Primary users of the collection are: 
     1.
local community 
     2. Rockvale Journalism classes and student body
     3. alumni and family

Community members have an invested interest in the memorabilia of the collection as it is a greater reflection of the history of the Rockvale area. Journalism students responsible for the school newspaper can utilize the collection for research and historical purposes; the overall student body may have interest in viewing the collection for historical purposes, as well as interest in preserving their own memorabilia of significance. Previous students who attended Rockvale, as well as family members of those students, who may have an interest in viewing or donating to the collection as a result of their family connection, whether or not they live in the area.

 Collection Goals 

Currently, all items donated that are related to the two Rockvale high schools, unless in extremely poor condition, will be included in the collection to preserve the past. Moving forward, objects related to student life will also be digitized for inclusion in this collection. As only some of the current objects are on display in the school, having digital access will increase the attention and accessibility of the items. The school hopes that this collection will garner further interest in the history of the school and its community. Collection goals will be updated and revised to reflect current donations received and objects collected by Rockvale High School. 

Collection Objectives

This digital collection will serve the greater Rockvale community by preserving the heritage of the school’s past. This digital collection will also preserve new materials from the new Rockvale High School moving forward. This collection will serve the local community as it chronicles the past. Priority for digitizing is given to the items in most danger of deterioration, starting with the oldest paper items. 

Content of the Collection/Selection

Material items from the old school were all donated; any item donated in good shape will be added to the collection. Items that are falling apart (for example are unrecognizable or illegible), will not be digitized but will be retained and stored with other materials. Currently, content includes items such as yearbooks, newspaper articles and photographs, school photographs, trophies, and some one of a kind objects such as a large bell, the old school sign, and several rockets, including a 40-foot rocket in front of the school (the mascot of both schools is The Rockets). As the collection will also include materials moving forward, similar items will be saved and digitized; in addition, other items of all types related to the school and student life will also be digitized and included in the collection. The physical items will be stored by Rockvale High School, as well as digital backup copies of the scanned materials. Any final decisions regarding inclusion in the collection will be made at the discretion of the principal. 

Collection Maintenance

Materials will be added to the collection at the discretion of the principal. The donated materials will be weeded of materials that fail to meet the goals of the collection, due to damage or inappropriate content. Materials will be accumulated and added to the digital collection on an ongoing basis. Once digitized, physical objects will be stored at Rockvale High School. Digital copies of files will also be maintained by Rockvale High School. The collection development policy will be reviewed and updated to maintain and reflect collection standards on a yearly basis. 

Budget Management

The school selected to use Omeka for building and hosting this collection. The annual fee for Omeka is $75, which the school principal authorized for 2022; the school is committed to paying this yearly fee for uninterrupted access to the digital collection. 

Promoting Collection

Rockvale is a small community; many who graduated from the old Rockvale Community Consolidated School still have ties to the community. Since the community has a lot of pride in the school and students, Rockvale High School is excited for the opportunity to share this collection with the community. Information about this collection will reach the intended audiences through the school's website, announcements at school events, and announcements to alumni.

Rights

Donated items to educational, non-profit institutions do not have the same stipulations as other facilities. The Rockvale High School is under this educational clause. There are currently no donation permission or usage forms required by the institution’s collection. Currently, there are no privacy infringements, as all materials created are in the public domain. 

Open Access/Security

Access control and authentication are critical components of an infrastructure that provides library patrons with digital materials. Currently, discussions are being held about how they can facilitate information access.

Last Policy Update: March 23, 2022