The place of ‘Library, Archives and Museum’ in the Preservation of Documentary Heritage: A professional challenge for Uganda
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Date
2006
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IFLA
Abstract
Libraries, archives and museum constitute a major part of the people’s life and reflect the diversity of people’s languages and cultures in the knowledge society. Despite of the colonial influence, many African countries including Uganda have preserved their natural and cultural heritage in terms of social tradition and documentary heritage with little emphasis on the integration of the functions of the libraries, archives and museum. A survey on selected institutions that are involved in the collection, storage, preservation and promotion on the use of natural, historical, cultural documentary heritage in Uganda was conducted. The data was obtained through interviews of key persons that were selected purposively from those institutions, attending the consultative meetings with staff at the National Library of Uganda, Uganda Museum, National Archives and East African School of Library and Information Science, department of Records and Archives Management. The paper also attempted to review the literature about the subject. Findings indicated that there is lack of a strategy in coordinating the functions of libraries, archives and museum in documenting and preserving the documentary heritage in Uganda. Although various efforts have focused on preservation of natural, historical and cultural heritage, there is no central strategy to integrate the libraries, archives and museum function to effectively collect, store, preserve, co-ordinate and enable access to documentary heritage in Uganda. It remains a professional challenge to Uganda in addressing the issues of space, funding, expertise, preservation, co-ordination, government intervention, publicity and accessibility and ensuring culture of access to information. That is why a strategy for training, sensitising and recruitment of professionals in a co-ordinated function is required to ensure the preservation and promotion of use of the documentary heritage in Uganda.
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Citation
Magara, E. (2006, February). The place of ‘Library, Archives and Museum’in the Preservation of Documentary Heritage: A professional challenge for Uganda. In World Library and Information Congress: 72md IFLA General Conference and Council (pp. 20-24). DOI:10.1.1.150.6387