The Question:
Isn’t everything online? While many archives can digitize *some* materials, none can simply say “we have everything digitized.” Copyright constrains digitization even if the archives has infinite resources, while many archives don't have the staff and technology to digitize anything at all. What can these repositories do to keep from becoming “forgotten”? And what can archivists do to “keep up” when full digitization of all archival collections is simply not a realistic goal (at least at this time)? (Question posed by Erin Lawrimore, Archives Management instructor, UNCG.)
My thoughts:
It is incredibly important for these repositories to make sure their "stories" are being told.If little to none of their collection is digitized, engagement with the community is even more crucial, especially when their patron audience is not as broad as traditional libraries.
Below are some ways archivists and staff could increase engagement and keep their story in the mind of their community.
1. Social media platforms are free and give everyone a voice. They are also quite simple to create and use. These platforms allow for more frequent and less formal online engagement. This type of communication can draw in an audience that would not typically seek out your collection.
Take a look at this Facebook post by The Georgetown County Public Library’s Digital Library.
They linked to a copy of a letter from a want-to-be suitor in New York to a young local lady he saw at a party. GCPL framed the letter as a love story, piquing everyone’s interest. When I shared it on my Facebook, I was immediately asked by friends how to find out what happened. Suddenly the archives mattered to them and it didn’t require the digitization of anything more than a scanned letter.
2. Programming is another great way to pull in people who may be interested in the archives, but do not feel they have any "real" reason to visit.
Lecture series, particularly that on local history, are popular.
Creating field trips for schools would engage younger community members.
Joint exhibits between the archives and other repositories would draw patrons to both facilities.
Workshops for serious hobbyists and/or families with young kids could cover a wide variety of topics. For example, a workshop on how to archive family photos where people bring in their own pictures and leave with a photo album, as well as knowledge on photo preservation.
There are so many great ideas that other, larger repositories are implementing. These ideas could be scaled down and adjusted to meet smaller staffing and budgets.
3. Digital archives are popular not just because they are easily accessible. They are also not intimidating to research novices. The average family genealogist doesn't have to worry about harming old documents when they're on the computer screen. The more physical collections can be made approachable, the less intimidating they become for people who simply want to look out of curiosity. This means having a welcoming staff who enjoy sharing archival know-how with their community is the best way to engage their audience and keep them coming back.
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