Ky Department For Libraries & Archives

I love the place! I don't go to the library. They have the best trails!
Jan 21st, 2023

Sep 17th, 2022

Nov 5th, 2021

Jul 5th, 2021

Located in a massive fortress building on a back road, adjacent to the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives is the official repository for historical records of governments in the state of Kentucky, including its various (and numerous)  counties.   Its collections include microfilms and original paper records dating to the very beginning of Kentucky as a state. It is truly a treasure for preservation of KY history and service to researchers of various interests. The archives are open to the public which include novices, intermediate and advanced independent researchers.I had a very specific and abbreviated research mission during my visit in September 2022, so cannot being to comment about the overall extent of their collections and services. I initially inquired via email about the availability of the specific records  I was looking for and received a quick, very helpful reply. Once there,  a very helpful, knowledgeable and efficient staff and they had me up and running quickly. I found exactly what I had hoped to find (prove or disprove a family legend about a wayward ancestor). It was truly amazing to hold 220 year old records of my ancestors and very grateful that we the public are allowed to do that.But my main purpose here is to clarify some things that may not be clear to first-timers, like myself. Like all similar facilities, there are stringent rules that must be followed and are strictly enforced. Experienced researchers are used to them, Novices may not. So just deal with it.Some supplemental comments:- Out of the way location, but easy enough to find. 626 to Coffee Tree road, next to Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which itself should be visited to pay tribute to the 1,048 soldiers who died and are honored there.- I overheard that cell phone service is poor/spotty.- Entry requires filling out a form with government ID at the guard desk. The guard will open the locked access door. - Items allowed to be carried in are limited and specific. Not at all unusual or unrealistic rule for facilities like this. Strictly enforced.- There are free lockers at the entrance for items not allowed. You will be given a key.- The hours are not clear. The overall facility is open 9-4, but the research room is open 9-11:30 and 1-4. You will leave for their lunch break 11:30 to 1:00.- Head out west on 626 for a couple miles to run into the usual fast food franchises.- If records are on microfilm, you must use that form, not the originals.- Two public rooms: microfilm and research.- To access originals, staff will prepare a request form after you have found the item on an index on microfilm and they will be called and delivered to the Research Room. Very fast, only 10 minutes or so. There will be a cut-off near the end of the day.- Desk space in Research Room IS limited. They advise reservations. When I was there on a Thursday, it was not busy. - Staff only makes photocopies. They are very accommodating as allowing very old, delicate records to be copied.- You may find that your very early records, like court proceedings, are written on what amount to scraps of paper bundles together. Treat them with care and keep them in order.- Verboten: Folders of any kind including even simple manila file folders, pens, briefcases, folios, knives, scissors, highlighters, food, drink, USB sticks (not sure why) and CD's (why would someone bring a CD there?).- Allowed: Laptops, pencils, note paper, loose papers, cameras, cellphones (ringers off!), overhead "book" style scanners, "hand scanners." Essentially you can photograph or scan documents as long as the scanner does not physically touch the object. That precludes flatbed scanners but allowed cell phone photos, camera photos and (presumably) overhead "book" scanners.- But ... the tables in the research room do not have outlets.- Your materials will be checked by the guard (a really nice, polite guy - this isn't the DMV) coming in and leaving. It is necessary to preserve the collection.
Sep 26th, 2022