SAVING SCHOOL MEMORIES

THE SCHOOL LIBRARY AS ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM

ARCHIVES

WHAT IS AN ARCHIVE? WHO USES ARCHIVES?

A collection of materials that document the lives of people in a community.

Students, journalists, lawyers, historians, and those interested in local history or genealogy

WHAT MATERIALS BELONG IN A SCHOOL ARCHIVE?

Materials that have historical significance such as… Letters Diaries Photos Maps Audio and video recordings Class Pictures Sports Memorabilia (trophies, plaques, medals) Legal documents like blueprints and building plans

HOW ARE LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS, AND ARCHIVES CONNECTED?

Cura

te Have programs and exhibits

Colle

ct Organize and circulate materials

Pro

vid

e

Acc

essAllow

public to view and utilize

All Three Institutions…

WHY SHOULD THE LIBRARY PRESERVE SCHOOL HISTORY?

To keep a record of the way the community has grown and changed

To create a living record of the school and community

To help students and families learn how to preserve their own cultures and traditions

So that those who want to learn about the past will have a resource to find information about people, places, and things from long ago

HOW DO YOU DEVELOP A COLLECTION

Encourage students, family, and community members to bring in items related to the school/community during National Preservation week

Digitize photos and documents Be sure to have a signed release for

donations Collaborate with local agencies like

historical societies, and museums.

HOW CAN YOU PROMOTE THE COLLECTION

Create displays to exhibit in the library or other school locations

Have students create PhotoStories about certain eras or events

Retain a searchable database Label artifacts and photos with as much

information as is known Create curriculum activities that use materials

to teach local history Allow public access through the school website

CATALOGING MATERIALS

Unpublished manuscripts, photos, and materials are categorized as archival material

They should be grouped by subject matter and by date

Keep a clear record of how you categorize materials so others can use your system

Use a database to keep track of items

WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED?

Have students conduct audio or video interviews

Encourage families and community members to lend or donate items

Ask PTA and teachers for items that may be in the school

Collaborate with local libraries, historical societies, churches, and museums

PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES

“Saving Family Treasures” Day Sharing Family Recipes Activities “Tell us your Story” Day Hire archivists for a day to help begin

the collection and teach preservation skills to the public

Offer free scanning of family documents and photos

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PRESERVATION WEEK @YOUR LIBRARY (AN INITIATIVE OF ALA AND ALCTS)

April 24-30, 2011 Every library is encouraged to do one

preservation activity Encourage families to preserve their

photos, letters, and other documents Visit the website for an extensive list of

ideas and resources ww.ala.org/preservationweek/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

National Archives Modern Archives Institute www.archives.gov/preservation/modern-archives-institute/

NorthEast Document Conservation Center www.nedcc.org/home.php

Smithsonian Archive Center www.siarchives.si.org American Heritage Preservation Grant www.imls.gov/ Society of American Archivists www2.archivists.org/ Library of Congress www.loc.gov

American Folklife center Prints and photograph division Manuscripts division

CATALOGING RESOURCES

Roe, K. (2005). Arranging and Describing Archives and Manscripts (Archival Fundamentals Series II). Society of American Archivists.

Backstage Library Works www.bslw.com (One of several companies that will, for a fee, organize, preserve, and catalog a collection)

ARCHIVING SUPPLIES “BOX”

Plastic sleeves for photos in various sizes Acid-free backing paper Acid-free envelopes, files, and labels in

various sizes Preservation boxes White gloves Flash drives, CDs, and other digital storage

devices High-resolution scanners

LAURA SISSON

SHSU, Class of 2010 Librarian, Woodlawn Elementary School and

Woodlawn Hills Elementary School, San Antonio ISD