Local history collections tell the ‘story’ of their communities. Its history helps to define and knit a community together; yet local history collections can be an overlooked or low priority area of public library service. Memory Victoria is a three-year State Library of Victoria and Victorian public library initiative providing guidance to public libraries for the better management, care and accessibility of their local history collections; assisting public libraries to advocate for the resources they need to support their local history collections; and, raising the profile of and engagement with local history collections in the community. To achieve its aims Memory Victory has employed a three-pronged strategy:
- Significance and Conservation Assessments of 58 local history collections held by Victorian public libraries;
- training for public library staff in caring for the physical condition of their local history collections; and,
- a ‘roadshow’ taking significant items from local history collections to audiences in schools and public libraries around Victoria.
Thirty-four Victorian public library services, a team of freelance historians, conservators from the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, and project management, conservation, learning and schools services staff from the State Library have worked collaboratively on Memory Victoria over the last three years. It has been a groundbreaking project with some big outcomes, which was recognised through a Victorian Arts Portfolio Leadership Award in 2007. The project provides a model for the management, development and promotion of local history collections held by public libraries that other States could follow.