Social media in archives

10 May 2011

A new video is looking at the pioneering work of RCAHMS in changing how archives can interact with the public.

Beyond Text, a UK-wide programme supporting academics from across museums, galleries, archives, business, media, technology and Higher Education, have interviewed RCAHMS Head of Education and Outreach Rebecca Bailey, and Edinburgh University researcher Michela Clari, about the potential impact of social media on archives.

In autumn 2009, RCAHMS opened up general public access to Canmore – the searchable online database of Scotland’s National Collection of buildings, archaeology and industry. Over 9,000 photographs and 900 text contributions have been made to date, with members of the public adding their own knowledge directly to RCAHMS interactive database – which already holds images and information on more than 300,000 buildings and sites throughout Scotland.

Rebecca Bailey said, “People with an in-depth knowledge about particular subjects or particular areas or places have been very keen to share their research with us. We decided we needed to give the public more of a voice within our collections, and social media gives us a way of capturing people’s stories and presenting them. It’s about being a National Collection owned by the people of Scotland, for the people of Scotland – and recognising that their contributions are as valid as our own.”

Michela Clari’s doctoral research is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and is co-supervised by Rebecca Bailey and Dr Sian Bayne of the University of Edinburgh School of Education.