Museum of Dufferin joins forces with local library to embrace area history

Written By Danielle Williams

The Museum of Dufferin (MoD) is pairing up with the Shelburne Library for an event to promote “Collecting the Community” on Nov. 1. 

“This project is an ongoing initiative to actively collect, preserve, and interpret the past, present, and future history of historically marginalized communities in Dufferin County,” said Caitlin Hudson-Dubsky, interim curator at MoD.

Since 2022, the museum has held “Collecting the Community” promotional exhibits at local libraries to promote the project. 

“Collecting the Community” mainly focuses on engaging and acknowledging historically marginalized groups in the county. The museum is currently collecting artifacts for their collection and encourages people to donate items that are significant to them. 

The MoD partners with local libraries to share the joys of their collection with community residents who cannot visit the museum in person. Having utilized the Shelburne Public Library for outreach booths in the past, the museum decided to hold another event there to reach residents.

“The museum has a history of doing outreach booths at the Shelburne Library, including other Collecting the Community outreach booths,” said Hudson-Dubsky. “We were excited to work with them again, as libraries are such a hub for local communities.”

The MoD has spent the last four months preparing and promoting the “Collecting the Community” project. From going to other libraries in Dufferin County to updating their blog online about artifacts they might be interested in, all as a preview to the event on Nov. 1. 

The MoD is hoping the upcoming event results in community members bringing unique items to add to its collections and better representing groups in the community that haven't been the focus historically. 

“Through this event, we hope to encourage future artifact donations to the museum from diverse communities within Dufferin County,” said Hudson-Dubsky. 

“As the demographics of the County change, it is important for the Museum to take active steps in preserving and telling the stories of its residents, especially those who have been historically excluded from our collections,” she added.

Join the Dufferin Museum and the Shelburne Library on Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to learn about the “Collecting the Community” project and help expand the collection further with diverse historical artifacts.