Collaboration on Public Programming by Memory Institutions in Botswana

Abstract

Public memory institutions such as libraries, archives and museums (LAMs) are mandated to preserve the cultural and documentary heritage of their nations for posterity. Such preservation is not an end in itself but the means to make holdings in their care, regardless of format, accessible to the public. However, studies have revealed that although LAMs are annually funded and they may also have rich accessible collections, they are underutilised and generally invisible. Funding from national coffers has dwindled since the global economic recession and the LAMs experience difficulties in attracting and retaining users. This chapter seeks to determine strategies deployed by LAMs to increase usage of their collections, establish the benefits of LAMs public programming and highlight challenges encountered in public programming. Also described in this chapter are some factors to consider when memory institutions undertake public programming initiatives in a collaborative manner. The data collected through desktop research was analysed using content analysis.