Outreach & Social Media

This page serves as a guide for transforming cultural heritage institutions into active community assets. It defines outreach as the "heartbeat" of an organization and social media as its "digital front door." This page provides "Quick Tips" for small institutions, scholarly readings on digital engagement, and practical webinars on low-budget advocacy and online exhibit development to bridge the gap between physical stacks and the public

Outreach

Outreach is the heartbeat of any cultural institution, transforming a silent repository into a vibrant community resource. For archives and museums, effective outreach means moving beyond the physical walls to share unique histories with a broader audience. Whether through digital platforms or in-person programs, outreach sparks public interest, encourages new donations, and demonstrates the vital importance of professional stewardship.

Theory Readings

Note: The choice in the selection of these materials does not mean these are the only materials which should be referenced, nor are they necessarily the right path for your institution. These readings simply provide alternative points of view on arrangement and descriptive practices in archival settings, and should be looked at as suggestions for practice.

We Have Glue and a Dream: A Case Study on Just for Fun Outreach at the Lemmen Library and ArchivesLeigh Rupinski, Archivist for Public Services and Community Engagement Katelyn Fletcher, Research Services Assistant Grand Valley State University Libraries Abstract Although the archival field has…

Archival Communication, Outreach, and Training | LucideaArchivists can be creative and have fun communicating their holdings’ value; the ways to spread the word are varied

Archival Vaudeville_ Rethinking Outreach with Collaborative Progr.pdf

Archival Vaudeville: Rethinking Outreach with Collaborative Programming

by Jennie Benford and Rachel Grove

International Council on Archives - Workshop Presentation - How to Conduct Outreach Activities with a Limited Budget

From ICOM: "The workshop examines the development of an Advocacy Plan with outreach activities which an archival institution could implement with a limited budget to develop awareness. It covers planning, reaching out, and using communication tools, as well as practical ways to get media attention and advocate. The workshop looks at setting goals and objectives for your advocacy plan, determining your target markets, developing your message, provides examples of outreach activities, and outlines an effective use of social media. The second part of the workshop looks at how to get media attention, including how to write a press release and how to make an elevator pitch."

outreach_with_a_limited_budget_ica_aeg_adelaide_resource_for_ica_website_part_1.pdf

outreach_with_a_limited_budget_ica_aeg_adelaide_resource_for_ica_website_part_2.pdf

Social Media

Social media serves as a digital front door for cultural institutions, allowing them to share unique histories with a global audience. These platforms are powerful tools for online exhibit development and community engagement. By sharing digitized records and "field notes," institutions can bridge the gap between their physical stacks and the public, sparking interest in heritage and encouraging new donations or visits.

Every month, RAP hosts a learn-and-connect session focusing on different topics and issues cultural heritage institutions face.

This presentation by Suzi Taylor offers social media tips for small institutions, covering why social media is important, an overview of platforms like Facebook and YouTube, advice for posting content, and a discussion of analytics and scheduling tools.

Quick Tips: Social Media for Small Institutions by Suzi Taylor (Presentation)