National Library of Australia  - Gateways

ISSN 1443-0568 | no. 72 | December 2004


Preserving Australia’s Documentary Heritage:
A Starter Kit for Community Groups

There are more than 700 000 community organisations in Australia and over 65 per cent of Australians belong to one or more of them. For that reason archival records of community groups represent a significant part of Australia’s documentary heritage which needs to be preserved.

The National Library has published a practical and easy guide to starting and maintaining an archival collection—Preserving Australia’s Documentary Heritage: A Starter Kit for Community Groups.

Setting up a small archive requires commitment, attention to detail, and knowledge of basic archival principles. Many decisions must be made about the role and scope of the archive; what to collect; who will be able to use the records; and on what basis. A storage area needs to be obtained, appropriate supplies sourced and records arranged, described and preserved.

The 14 fact sheets in the starter kit cover all these issues in a concise and practical way. Sample forms and documents relevant to managing a small archive are included and can be adapted to individual needs. The kit incorporates three case studies on Australian community archives as a source of inspiration and encouragement for newcomers to the field. Information on copyright and lists of other resources and specialist terms are also included. In addition, the kit provides a list of grant programs and hints on applying for grants, as finding a source of funding for archival projects often proves difficult for a community organisation. 

The kit is intended as a helpful source of guidance and advice on archival principles and practices for those community groups who have kept their organisational records and would like some help with developing their archive, as well as for those who have not yet started collecting but would like to set up an archive.

The starter kit is freely available for download in pdf format from the National Library’s website at <www.nla.gov.au/services/comgroups.html>.
—Barbara Rozmus, Manager, National Initiatives

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