Posted on December 16, 2015 at 11:06 AM by Brian Herder
Archives Alive: Expanding Engagement with Public Library Archives and Special Collections (2015)
Diantha Dow Schull
American Library Association
978-0-8389-1335-2
All too often the image of a public library archive is of a dusty
collection of artifacts and documents occasionally exhumed for a
neglected display case. But librarians and archivists across the country
are turning that stereotype on its head, developing innovative ways to
bring library users into new relationships with archival professionals
and research collections. From social archives and citizen cartography
to artist-curators and photovoice projects, special collections
departments are demonstrating their value not only for preservation but
also for outreach, education, and public service. In this book Schull
canvasses the nation, showcasing exciting ideas that can be adapted for
every public library. A must-have text for anyone with responsibilities
for directing, managing or teaching archival services, as well as for
those who are studying best practices and planning for change, this book:
- Offers
examples of more than 100 projects that reflect the scope and variety
of emerging practices that foster public engagement, culled from
conversations with dozens of the nation's leading public library
archivists and special collections staff
- Profiles 13 institutions and departments that are in the forefront of change
- Analyzes
trends in public programming, community documentation, and digital
communications that are re-shaping the image, functions, content, and
uses of public library archives and special collections
Sharing
models for institutions seeking to expand connections with public
audiences, this unique survey demonstrates how to make archives come
alive for libraries and their communities.