Whilst your records are in current use it is worth considering how to care for them, as later you may want to select some of them for preservation as part of an archival collection. Records can take various forms including paper based, photographic, audiovisual and digital material.  

Managing, caring for and storing your own records

Please have a look at our short informational video for a basic overview of good practice when looking after your records:

For additional resources about caring for your own records, please take a look at the following links:

• The National Archives has a wide range of resources including Archive Principles and Practice: an introduction to archives for non-archivists

• Heritage Hub produced by Gloucestershire Archives is a web resource for community and family archivists covering a range of topics to help you preserve a personal, organisational, local or subject-related collection

• Gateway to Your Archive: A guide on how to identify, use and manage your community archive produced by Explore York Libraries and Archives offers valuable advice on storing your collection

• Association for Performing Arts Collections (APAC) Resources 

• The Institute of Conservation offers a range of help advice on the care and conservation of objects

Preserving your personal digital files

Please have a look at our brief overview of good practice when starting to manage your personal digital archive: 

 

For additional resources about preserving your digital files, please take a look at the following links:

• The Digital Preservation Coalition has produced Personal Digital Archiving advice and a comprehensive report

• For advice on preserving your digital memories, such as digital photographs, audio and video have a look at The Library of Congress personal archiving pages

For performance and theatre companies looking to maintain their archives

• The American Theatre Archive Project, an initiative of the American Society for Theatre Research has produced comprehensive guidance, Preserving Theatrical Legacy: An Archiving Manual for Theatre Companies (please be aware the ATAP Initiation Program [Appendix A] is intended for American theatre companies)

Donate your records

If you decide to donate your records to a repository for permanent preservation, we can help you find the most appropriate home for them, whether that be at the Theatre Collection or another archive in the UK. Please have a look at our information page Finding a new home for your records.

Some benefits of donating your records to an archive, such as the Theatre Collection, include that your records will be:

• catalogued to archive standards
• made available and accessible to researchers
• kept in carefully monitored storage facilities to ensure optimum conditions for long-term preservation