Dedicated Volunteers Make Digital Archives Available

When one mentions the word ‘archive’, it instantly conjures the image of dusty old books in a dark basement.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth and many people might not realise that today archives are kept in clean, highly-specialised repositories. They would also be surprised to learn that archives can be digital records too, as well as conventional paper or parchment.

At the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service, in the Treasure House, Beverley, has a cast digital archive, which has been made accessible thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

A range of digital video archive material can be viewed in the search room, and owing to the work of volunteers it is now possible to search through some of these in great detail.

Sam Bartle, collections officer, said: “Volunteers have been trawling through parts of our archive video material, picking out all of the salient points so that members of the public can go straight to the parts that interest them. If you consider that some of these videos are around two hours long then it becomes clear how useful this work is to us.”

Only part of the work has been completed however, and much more needs to be done, which is why the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service is calling for volunteers to apply for this and some of its other projects.

A number of videos relating to the local area, including many of the documentaries made by amateur film maker Reg Walker, need to be catalogued in more detail.

As a volunteer you would:
* Learn new skills, full training will be given
* enjoy working through archive video material of Beverley and the surrounding area
* be a part of making audio visual archives accessible for future generations
* receive a 25 per cent discount at the Champney Coffee Lounge.

There are also places available for volunteer projects in the conservation workshop and working on Beverley newspapers.

For more details, call Fiona Johnston on (01482) 392793 or go to the volunteering section at www.recruiteastriding.co.uk