Community archives: sustaining memory

This book traces the trajectory of the community archivesmovement, expanding the definition of community archives to include sites suchas historical societies, social movement organisations and community centres.It also explores new definitions of what community archives might encompass,particularly in relation to disciplines outside the archives.

Over ten years have passed since the first volume of Community Archives, and inspired bycontinued research as well as by the formal recognition of community archivesin the UK, the community archives movement has become an important area ofresearch, recognition and appreciation by archivists, archival scholars andothers worldwide. Increasingly the subject of papers and conferences, communityarchives are now seen as being in the vanguard of social concerns, markers ofcommunity-based activism, a participatory approach exemplifying the on-goingevolution of 'professional' archival (and heritage) practice and integral tothe ability of people to articulate and assert their identity.

CommunityArchives, Community Spaces reflects the latest research and includespractical case studies on the challenges of building and sustaining communityarchives. This new book will appeal to practitioners, researchers, andacademics in the archives and records community as well as to historians andother scholars concerned with community building and social issues.