He's Mr. Preservation

            In early July 2005, local history documents, rare books and miscellaneous archives lay scattered among the shelves of the Mooresville Public Library.

            All of that changed later that month when one man became a member of the library staff and began building a new, cohesive department – Special Collections – dedicated to preserving those overlooked items.

            Andy Poore, curator of special collections, has spent the last five years single-handedly building a department that did not exist before he was hired.

            “It would be a piece here and a piece there, and the community really hadn't (started) donated,” Poore said of the materials that would eventually comprise the collection.

            Since then, through donations, town submissions and his own fervent footwork, Poore has collected around 11,000 materials – books, recordings, maps, photographs, documents, manuscripts and much more – since beginning his tenure. “I like bringing the oral history record, the written record and the physical history together.”

            The visible special collections section, located in the original portion of the library, is only one-third of the items Poore has gathered. The rest, including some of the rarest books in the library that are consistently under lock-and-key, reside in the basement, lining movable, expandable shelves Poore purchased for the library soon after his arrival.

            Keeping the MPL in tune with the latest and best means of preservation, said Poore, remains a top priority of special collections.

            “We have standards to follow to make sure it's preserved,” he added, mentioning the strict use of white gloves when handling materials and the measures the library takes to ensure the best physical environment – such as particular humidity controls and ultraviolet-light protection – for the special collections area.

            Despite these preservation standards, Poore tries to provide public access to all materials, even if they cannot be viewed in their original form. This curator can often be found making multiple copies of aging books, recording old records onto CDs or digitally replicating and saving photos and town government documents.

            All of this, as well as ever-continuing research and assisting the hundreds of patrons seeking his help each month, compose the responsibilities of this one-man department.

            But for Poore, pulling together thousands of materials and consistently diving into Mooresville history is more than just a day job.

            “Most people, if they saw this as just a job, they'd burn out in a heartbeat,” Poore said with a laugh. “It's fun to me. It's never the same every day.”

            He added, “I don't see it as a job. I see it as a charge, a bestowal as a gatekeeper to the community. I like being the town historian, the town archivist. I see it as my way of giving back to the community.”

            Surrounded on a near-daily basis by Mooresville family genealogies, oral histories and regional maps for the last five years, Poore said he's loved his role with the library since day one.

            And that passion, said MPL Director John Pritchard, has not gone unnoticed.

            “He's integral. There's just no denying his significance,” Pritchard said, mentioning that the library hadn't even considered forming a special collections department until Poore applied for a listed job and staffers noticed his qualifications. Prior to employment with the Town of Mooresville, Poore served as a museum curator in Iredell County.

            “When we saw Andy's application and his credentials and what he could bring to us, we realized at that point we needed a local history collection,” added Pritchard.

            Describing special collections as unique and a “value-added component,” the MPL director said Poore moved into his role with a clear idea of what the department should become – a vision that has come to fruition over the last five years.

            “Andy's worked really hard to obtain church histories, family histories and as much genuine Mooresville history as he can find,” Pritchard said, noting the current Coach Joe Popp display Poore created. “There is no other library around the area where you can get the kind of local history that we collect and make available to the public.”

            For Poore, continuing to develop the special collections – through a variety of means, including obtaining new materials, seeking out additional archival information and adding to Mooresville's historical accounts – is a major focus as the department moves into the latter half of its first decade.

            “The main goal I'm working to in conjunction with the (Mooresville Museum) is I want this to be the main repository for Mooresville,” said Poore. “I want people to see this as the center of the history for the town. I want this to be the hub that we can build everything off of.”

            Only five years old, the special collections department is already well on its way, and Poore said he's cherished every moment thus far.

            “This is a visual representation of the public trust. The public trusts me to keep and preserve this forever and ever. I'm a steward of the public trust.”

            He added, “I see it as an honor, I see it as the old Mooresville community entrusting me with the old library, the history, the preservation of it and the continuation of seeing Mooresville as Mooresville as we continue to grow and change. I take it as a high honor.”

            For more information on the Mooresville Public Library's Special Collections, including operating hours, visit http://ci.mooresville.nc.us/portal/librarylocal.