Digital collecting, Oral history Maria Savvidis, Librarian @mariasavvidis presented at Digital collecting for NSW public library staff, 27 May 2019

1. Oral History Collecting
Maria Savvidis @mariasavvidis
27 May 2019

2. Why collect oral history?
● Longstanding practice of cultures using the voice as a
tool for passing down tradition, knowledge and memory
between generations
● As a research practice - an established and important
source of social knowledge and information
● To address lack of representation
● Cultural memory - our past, present and future

3. Wishlist
● Focus on your Collection Development Policy
● Address gaps in the collection
● Complement existing holdings in your
collection
● Respond to contemporary issues and events

4. The interview
● Open ended questions
● Avoid leading or suggesting
● Chronological focus
● Minimal interruptions to narrative
● Non verbal and impartial responses

5. Oral History interviews online:
● SLNSW https://oralhistories.sl.nsw.gov.au
● Amplify https://amplify.sl.nsw.gov.au
● National Library of Australia
https://www.nla.gov.au/what-we-collect/oral-history-and-folklore
● City of Sydney https://www.sydneyoralhistories.com.au
● New York Public Library http://oralhistory.nypl.org
● British Library https://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history

6. Checklist for every interview:
❏ WAV files - uncompressed WAV 24 bit 48 kHz, stereo
❏ Signed oral history rights agreement form
❏ Digital photograph of interviewee (JPEG, TIFF)
❏ Executive summary (2-3 paragraphs, Word document)
❏ Interview metadata (Excel worksheet)
❏ All files named correctly, saved to a USB / portable hard drive
❏ Ask if interviewee prefers their copy of the interview on USB / CD

7. Further resources:
• Oral History Australia https://www.oralhistoryaustralia.org.au
• Guidelines for ethical practice
https://www.oralhistoryaustralia.org.au/files/oha_guidelines_for_ethical_p
ractice__2007.pdf
• Oral History NSW https://www.oralhistorynsw.org.au
• Oral History Handbook, by Beth M Robertson
Fifth Edition, 2013, ISBN 0646454447

8. Oral History Collecting
Maria Savvidis @mariasavvidis
27 May 2019