Preserving the Past, Empowering the Future: Exploring the Role of Libraries in Safeguarding Local History

Library Herald

Year : 2024, Volume : 62, Issue : 4

First page : (665) Last page : (681)

Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Online ISSN : 0976-2469.

Article DOI : 10.5958/0976-2469.2024.00045.3

Preserving the Past, Empowering the Future: Exploring the Role of Libraries in Safeguarding Local History

Subhendu Kar1, Soumen Mallik2

1 Librarian, Vivekananda Satavarshiki Mahavidyalaya, Manikpara, Jhargram, India

2 Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, India

Abstract

The study scrutinizes the fundamental role of libraries in the creation and preservation of local historical resources. In fact, local history frequently plays a significant role in comprehension of the unique heritage, culture, and identity of a community. Libraries, more often are considered as treasure houses of information and knowledge centres, which have a central responsibility to collect, organise, and preserve historical materials as also to document the local history of a place. Libraries play a multi-faceted title role in collecting, preserving and disseminating local history, progressing beyond their mere knowledge repositories to become vibrant and dynamic hubs of information through community engagement. This article utilizes a methodology of a comprehensive evaluation of appropriate literature from dependable sources. Its main objective to discover the vital role of libraries in preserving the past and empowering the future by actively engaging in collection, development, documentation, organisation, digitisation, and archival as well as promotion of local history. The study also brings to the fore highlights the impact of digital preservation in revolutionising the accessibility and dissemination of historical information and the role of libraries in implementation of various tools for the digitisation of local history materials. The paper also explores the trials libraries confront in accomplishing this role. The findings accentuate the importance of libraries in defending local history and provide an comprehension of how they can delve into our shared past, ensuring the continuation of legacies into the future.

Keywords

Local History, Local History Preservation, Oral History, Local History Collections, Local History and Libraries