This is the digital home of the Opelika Public Library's archives, open to everyone. Here you can explore the documentary record of Opelika and Lee County, from digitized newspapers to photographs, manuscripts, and local history materials. Click into a collection to browse it, or use the search box to look for a newspaper, a date, or a subject. Each item shows its title, date, and rights, so you can see what it is and how it may be used.


**Welcome**

The Opelika Public Library Special Collections and Archives preserves the documentary record of Opelika and Lee County and makes it available to everyone. This portal is where that record lives online: digitized newspapers, photographs, manuscripts, oral histories, and the papers of the people, families, and organizations who shaped this community.

**What we do**

We collect, preserve, and provide access to materials that document life in Opelika and the surrounding area. Some of these materials have been part of the library for decades. Others arrive through the generosity of families, businesses, and organizations who trust us to keep their records safe and usable for generations to come. We describe each collection according to national archival standards, so you can find what you need and understand where it came from.

**Using the collection**

Materials in this portal are here for research, study, and personal enjoyment. Many items are in the public domain. Others carry rights that affect how they can be reused, and we note those where we can. If you have a question about reusing an item, or you would like a higher-resolution copy, please get in touch. Detailed finding aids for our collections are available at opl.libraryhost.com.

**Add to the archive**

The archive grows because the community builds it. If you have letters, photographs, business records, scrapbooks, home movies, maps, or other materials that tell the story of Opelika and Lee County, we would like to hear from you. A short conversation is the best place to start, and there is no obligation to donate.

**Contact**

Opelika Public Library, Special Collections and Archives

1100 Glenn Street, Opelika, AL 36801

Murray Rice, Local History and Archives Librarian
[mrice@opelika-al.gov](mailto:mrice@opelika-al.gov)

(334) 705-5387 

Welcome!

Opelika Public Library Digital Archives

Privacy policy is the one page here where I'd add a real caveat: it's a legal document, and since OPL is a city entity (opelika-al.gov), the city may already have a website privacy policy or public-records language that this should align with. I'd run the final version past Rosanna, and ideally have someone on the city side confirm it doesn't conflict with an existing citywide policy. I'm not a lawyer, so treat this as a solid working draft, not legal sign-off.

One accuracy note: I've kept the data-collection language general because what Preservica's Universal Access portal actually logs (analytics, cookies, server logs) depends on their configuration. If you can confirm from Preservica's own docs what the portal collects, we can tighten the specifics. Here's a draft that's safe on the general side:

**Privacy Policy**

The Opelika Public Library Special Collections and Archives is committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who uses this portal. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit, how we use it, and the choices available to you.

**Information we collect**

When you browse this portal, our platform may automatically collect standard technical information, such as your IP address, browser type, the pages you view, and the date and time of your visit. This information helps us understand how the collection is used and how to improve it. The portal may also use cookies, which are small files stored by your browser, to support basic site functionality. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, though some features may not work as intended.

If you contact us by email, submit a research request, or offer to donate materials, we collect the information you choose to provide, such as your name, contact details, and the substance of your inquiry. We use this information only to respond to you and to carry out the work of the archive.

**How we use your information**

We use the information we collect to operate and improve this portal, to respond to inquiries and research requests, and to steward the collections in our care. We do not sell your information, and we do not share it with third parties for marketing purposes.

**Third-party platform**

This portal is hosted on Preservica, a digital preservation platform. Preservica processes technical information on our behalf as part of delivering the service. Some materials in this portal are also shared with statewide and regional aggregators, such as AlabamaMosaic, to make Alabama's documentary heritage easier to discover.

**Public records**

The Opelika Public Library is a public institution. Communications you send to us, including research requests and correspondence about donations, may be subject to Alabama public records law.

**Links to other sites**

This portal may link to other websites, including the main library site and partner institutions. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of sites we do not operate, and we encourage you to review their policies.

**Changes to this policy**

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page.

**Contact**

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact:

Murray Rice, Local History and Archives Librarian

Opelika Public Library, Special Collections and Archives

1100 Glenn Street, Opelika, AL 36801
[mrice@opelika-al.gov](mailto:mrice@opelika-al.gov)

(334) 705-5387 

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