Lost in the crowd: building and managing communities of interest

Citation

Magee K (2017) Lost in the crowd: building and managing communities of interest. DCDC 2017 The cultural value of collections and the creative economy, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester, 27.11.2017-29.11.2017. https://dcdcconference.com/dcdc17-papers/

Abstract
Is the reading room still the central focus of an archives service? Today our users are as likely to engage with our collections through social media as visit the searchroom in person. Patterns of use and methods of engagement with archives are changing. This paper will look at the challenges of connecting with new audiences, both physical and virtual. It will draw on recent experiences at the University of Stirling including the Peter Mackay Archive crowdfunding project, which raised funds to support the cataloguing and digitisation of a new collection of material relating to Southern African history.