Introducing Boone County Borderlands Archive and History Center at Boone County Public Library

Boone County Borderlands Archive and History Center at Boone County Public Library (formerly known as Local History) is a department of Boone County Public Library located inside the Main Library in Burlington, Kentucky. Created in response to a community mandate for an extensive chronicle of Boone County’s past, the Archive and History Center makes local historical interests and research easily accessible to the public.

Staffed by an experienced group of librarians and researchers, the Archive and History Center is the hub of all things local history and continues to offer the same services as the former Local History department. With both a physical and digital collection, online resources, genealogy services, teacher resources, programming and more, the Archive and History Center is ready to help with all your local history needs.

Boone County Borderlands Archive and History Center at Boone County Public Library seeks to acquire, organize, preserve, conserve and promote access to its collection of archival records, rare books, printed materials and non-textual materials to researchers, students, professionals and the general public.

Resources and Services

Our Collection

Our physical collection includes historical books, local newspapers, historical microfilm and local high school yearbooks. Portions of the collection are available for checkout while others are for in-house use only. Our expansive digital collection includes Chronicles of Boone County, Local History Digital Collection, and Historic Editions of Boone County Recorder and Walton Advisor. In addition, research can be done from the convenience of your home or on the go with online resources.

Genealogy

Whether your family is from Boone County or not, we have resources to help you with your family history. Our staff members are experienced genealogists who will meet with you one-on-one to help you get started with your research. Walk-ins are also welcome for independent and experienced researchers.

Ghost Walks and Other Programs

Each October, we sponsor walking tours of reportedly haunted locations around Boone County, as well as programming on genealogy and local historical events throughout the year.

Initiatives

African Americans of Kentucky Borderlands

Through the African Americans of Boone County Initiative, launched in 2014, BCPL has brought to light the issues of enslavement within Boone County’s history and helped the community to acknowledge its past and those who were enslaved. A granular look into both the resilience and the contributions of African Americans within Kentucky’s past is supported through ongoing initiatives.

The Underground Railroad in Boone County

In 2017, BCPL was recognized as a National Park Service’s Network to Freedom affiliated member, both as a research facility and as a program (UGRR tour). BCPL has received several Network to Freedom-funded grants.