The Museum on the Road: A Visit to the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library

This June, Thomas and I had the pleasure of visiting the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library in Man, West Virginia. It was an inspirational trip, and it solidified the intricate and powerful connection between libraries and museums in our communities.

Just one county over from us, the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library serves as a cornerstone of the community, not just for its resources but also for its dedication to preserving local history. The library honors the 125 lives lost in the devastating 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood, holding an annual commemoration each February.

Our visit coincided with a special guest: Emily Drabinski, President of the American Library Association (ALA). As part of her "Road to Annual Presidential Tour," she selected nine libraries across the country to visit, and the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library was fittingly to be one of them. This initiative highlights the vital role libraries play in our society, and a film is being produced to document these visits.

To learn more about Emily Drabinski's journey and the importance of libraries, be sure to visit the ALA's blog: ALA Road to Annual Presidential Tour.

This visit to the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library is a testament to the impact libraries have on fostering knowledge, preserving history, and bringing communities together. We were grateful for the opportunity to make connections with the staff and volunteers who are doing terrific work in their corner of Logan County, and we hope to work together in the future! 

Kenzie