Case study questions for the forum

[Robin Sampson]

The Community Archives: Skills, Support and Sustainability project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund has worked with 15 community archive groups on a one-to-one basis over Zoom since October 2020.

At this halfway point we’d be very happy to hear from those we’ve worked with so far and encourage you to think about how it’s gone, and to share your achievements and plans.

Groups from Cohorts 1-3, please feel free to take a look at the questions below and add your answers to the forum.

1. What has your group gotten out of the project?
2. What changes have you implemented?
3. What's most excited your group about participating in the project?
4. What do you think the group can now achieve with what you‘ve learnt?
5. How could you develop your group’s activities over the next 2 years? Think about what support you would want to achieve this.

[Robin Sampson]

Dear all,

further to this Girl Guiding Norfolk have very kindly shared their answers with us to put on the Forum. If any other group would like to share their experiences of the project, please feel free to post here!

1. What has your group gotten out of the project? 
   
   

• Reinforcement of information already known, and confirmation of correct practice  
• Open access to ask questions and confirm action is being taken correctly  
• Professional course delivered – all hearing the same message given by knowledgeable person. 
• Confidence to move forward with storing our collections appropriately 
• Hopefully a certificate to acknowledge that course has been attended and completed by individuals for their portfolio, cvs, etc. 
• Extensive digitisation equipment of the highest standard.  
• Zoom calls specific to our needs as per specific items. 
• Some individuals pleased they know more about storing their personal collections. 
• Anglia archivists pleased to have an overview of digitisation – the whys and wherefores, and potentially the opportunity to share GGN’s equipment.  
• Knowledge that sessions can be reviewed online when needed.
  
  
  2. What changes have you implemented? 
  

• The way we handle materials (making sure to remove all staples and all metal and with care)  
• Issues around copyright law have been identified and noted as causes for concern/greater awareness  
• It has made everyone more confident knowing they are dealing with objects correctly.  
• A change in thinking regarding choosing what to digitise, and how those images will be used. 
  
  
  3. What's most excited your group about participating in the project? 

• To start entering records onto Modes once boxing is finished 
• Interested in moving forward with digitising the collection, input into developing a policy, strategy, plan and timetable.  
• Understanding digitising and how it applies to us. 
  
  
  4. What do you think the group can now achieve with what you‘ve learnt? 

• Have a realistic plan for digitisation and organisation – and the ability to develop it  
• Enter info on National Archives website – Discovery (potentially with a digitised Sandringham Log Book)  
• A digitisation strategy, policy and work plan with a realistic timetable. Hopefully this could be achieved with input from the project team too.
  
  
  5. How could you develop your group’s activities over the next 2 years? Think about what support you would want to achieve this. 

• Chocolate biscuits and intravenous coffee in a face to face situation!  
• Continued personal input from the Norfolk Record Office
• A (permanent) part-time member of staff to supervise a digitisation project, to digitise 5% of our collection (shared with other partners) 
• Support with getting some of collection on-line. 
• More training on manipulation of digitised images.