Ask An Archivist Day!

What do you want to know about the SABC Radio Archives?

Follow the questions on Twitter @SABCRadioArc

⚡️ “Ask an Archivist Day 2017”#AskAnArchivist #AskAnArchivistDay https://t.co/O36hakj1mD

— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) October 4, 2017

World War 1 content from SABC archives shared on Twitter via #WW1archives

The SABC Media Libraries are joining archives in search of World War 1 material on 10 June 2014 #WW1archives

Twitter shares with hashtag #WW1archives from @SABCMediaLib, @SABCRadioArc and @SABCInfoLib:


From the SABC Media Library @SABCMediaLib:

Join archives in search of World War 1 material on 10 June 2014 #WW1archives http://t.co/7dNgDzejvz
— SABC Media Library (@SABCMediaLib) June 5, 2014

From the SABC Radio Archives @SABCRadioArc:

Shout- out to archives! Will be sharing some World War 1 documents from the radio archives #WW1archives
— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) June 10, 2014

Catalogued item from the radio archives: interview with a #WW1 pilot #WW1archives pic.twitter.com/XOKsy4TQRL
— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) June 10, 2014

"@karentoittoit: Delville Wood Battle - snippet of recording from the radio #archives for #WW1archives https://t.co/PGcV6gxKQ4"
— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) June 10, 2014

"For #WW1archives day - Capt Eddie Rickenbacker - American Ace Fighter pilot of the First World War ivd https://t.co/jBLvty4ldw" #audio
— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) June 10, 2014

Don't forget to follow an archive @followanarchive and ask an archivist @AskArchivists on #archives day via #WW1archives
— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) June 10, 2014

From the SABC Information Library @SABCInfoLib:

"@sabcinfolib: books section highlighting some #WW1archives books in collection http://t.co/tViymQcJq3"
— SABC Radio Archive (@SABCRadioArc) June 10, 2014

An article from the newspaper cutting section highlighting World War 1 for #ww1archives (@newbase technology) http://t.co/TEaqknD1Y6
— SABC Info Library (@sabcinfolib) June 10, 2014

Newspaper article about #WW1 for #WW1archives - from a WW1 file in the newspaper clippings section > @Beeld_Nuus... http://t.co/TTwaIPUu6u
— SABC Info Library (@sabcinfolib) June 10, 2014

"Women gets letter in bottle from father who died in WW1" - from Star newspaper 18-5-999 #WW1archives - in... http://t.co/GfJP6O6eLa
— SABC Info Library (@sabcinfolib) June 10, 2014

Related posts:

 - Join archives in search of World War 1 material on 10 June 2014 #WW1archives

- International Archives Day on 9 June #IAD14


Blog post by Karen du Toit.

Join archives in search of World War 1 material on 10 June 2014 #WW1archives

#WW1archives
@followanarchive @askanarchivist

The yearly International Archives Day are celebrated on 9 June, but because it falls on public holidays celebrated in some parts, it has been decided to change the annual Twitter event to 10 June.

German archivist Thomas Wolf from SIWI-archives suggested that the focus should be on World War I or The Great War that started 100 years ago.

The Great War in archives 

All archives and other heritage organizations are asked to search their collections for documents related to the First World War 1914-1918. Even countries that were neutral during the Great War, can perhaps find some records about, for instance, aid to refugees, or military or financial support to soldiers, families, countries in need.

Subjects to look for and tweet about 

Archival documents, records, newspapers, pictures, drawings, postcards, paintings, etc. about:
- Soldiers
- Families and loved ones of soldiers
- Battlefields
- Refugees
- Aid / Support
- Governments
- Weapons
- Mobilisation
- Diseases
- War cemeteries
- History before, during, after 1914-1918, all related to the First World War

Hashtag: #WW1archives 

Join @AskArchivists and @FollowAnArchive on #WW1archives Day on Twitter, June 10, 2014.                                    - Info: Ask Archivists

Ask Archivists and Follow an archive will be posting more details.



Picture taken from Ask Archivists/Follow an Archive blogs:
Created from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thiepval_Ridge

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-world-war-diaries-go-online-to-mark-centenary

Heritage Beasts in the Archives #heritagebeasts

#heritagebeasts in SABC Radio Archives 

Today is World Animal Day, and Ask Archivists have organised a Twitter event for archives.

The Twitter hashtag is #heritagebeasts

They call it Beasts in your collections?!

The call:

"Let’s dive into our collections to search for colourful fishes. Let’s make a safari tour through our depots to catch wild animals. Let’s have a stroll through all the bookshelves to discover beautiful insects that hide there. Let’s have a great flight through our storagerooms and catch up with some amazing birds. Make a silent tour at night to spot the very rare unicorn. And let’s show all the animals we found in our depots and collections to the world on World Animal Day!"

The SABC Radio Archives, the audio archives for the radio stations of the national broadcaster of South Africa (SABC), are no exception!

We have our fair share of sounds and programmes about beasts!

A search for "animals" in our Thesaurus results in 147 documents.

In one document of 1980 the sounds of the following are recorded: dove, elephant, hippo, zebra, jackal, frog, lion, heron, rhino, impala, ... (See the snippet that was copied on top.)

A search for "Rhino*" (Rhino/rhinoceros) yields 35 documents.
The wonderful beast that is being slaughtered on a daily basis for its horn!
Most of the programmes are about the conservation of this animal, but we have the sounds of this mighty beast preserved for our heritage in our collection!

It was interesting to look at our collections from this angle!

Have a happy "hunting" in your collections for those beasts!

Thank you Ask Archivists for the initiative!


Post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Storify of International Archives Day 2012 via SABC Media Libraries #archday12

A compilation of some of the tweets and social media engagement by SABC Media Libraries @SABCMediaLib (including SABC Radio Archives @SABCRadioArc) on International Archives Day on June 9 2012 this year.

Questions and answers on Ask Archivists Day

@SABCRadioArc on #AskArchivists Day

The Ask Archivists Day on 9 June 2011 on Twitter, marked by the hashtag #AskArchivists sparked some interesting questions and conversation. The SABC Media Libraries took part through the SABC Radio Archives account @SABCRadioArc, as well as SABC Media Libraries account @SABCMediaLib on Twitter:

We answered some specific questions addressed to us, as well taking part in the general discussion on the day.

Question(Q): @denaaktepriest Fourie Rossouw:
@karentoittoit How can I get hold of PW Botha's Rubicon Speech? (received on 6 June)
Answer (A): karentoittoit Karen du Toit:
@denaaktepriest PW Botha's 80min Rubicon speech of 1985 in the #archives. Contact SABC program sales 0117146886 @SABCRadioArc #AskArchivists

9 June 2011: Ask Archivists Day:

Q: the_archive Harriet Deacon:
So in SAfrican archives you have limited resources and a big cataloguing backlog - do we have comparatively few clients too? #AskArchivists
A: @SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@the_archive Yes, in SAfrican archives we have limited resources and big cataloguing backlogs with comparatively few clients #AskArchivists

Q: @Visarkivet Svenskt visarkiv:
We're a music archive and we're curious: Which of all archives participating in #AskArchivists Day have music in their collections?
A: @SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@Visarkivet @SABCMusicLib & @SABCRecordLib as departm of @SABCMediaLib has music in their collections

Q: BlogjeBabs Barbara Nijhoff:
#AskArchivists To all the archives on twitter today, what is the most valuable/precious/particular piece in your archive?
A:@SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@BlogjeBabs One of most valuable recordings: 1890 voice recording: Florence Nightingale recalling battle of Balaclava #AskArchivists

Q: the_archive Harriet Deacon:
@wyorksarchives so the question is whether you can leapfrog some of the cataloguing work through digitization strategies #AskArchivists
A:@SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@the_archive @wyorksarchives leapfrogs cataloguing through digitization - definitely! Busy mini-discs ingestion by interns’ #AskArchivists

Q: archives_masala Pauline Moirez:
#AskArchivists Hi twit archivists! Does your institution have a social media global strategy? What social media do you use?
A:@SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@archives_masala our comp busy def social strategy. In meantime we have Facebook, Twit & blog for all depts in @SABCMediaLib #AskArchivists

Q:DaneAnne Anne-Grethe Jensen:
For all the #archivists out there: Why did you become an archivist? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@DaneAnne #archivists -on why becoming archivist - started as librarian, but both value the preservation of our cult heritage #AskArchivists

Q: the_archive Harriet Deacon:
@StatensArkiver most digitization currently happening in SA archives I know is either by clients or by specific projects #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@the_archive @StatensArkiver currently have interns on a project to digitize our minidisks. #AskArchivists

Q:CaroleRiley Carole Riley:
As much as I'm enjoying #AskArchivists it appears to be more about the archives themselves than users of archives
A: @SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@CaroleRiley In SA users definitely don't realize the value of Archives yet #AskArchivists

Q: the_archive Harriet Deacon:
Archivists - what's the most frequent misunderstanding about your archive by visitors? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive:
@the_archive the most frequent misunderstanding - we catalogue everything, which is impossible! #AskArchivists

Q: SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@SABCRadioArc: Restoration or destruction in the audio archives?
@SABCRadioArc too much restoration is destruction of original. Focus should rather be on preservation, my opinion. #AskArchivists
A:@RichardWright Richard Wright:
@SABCMediaLib @SABCRadioArc #AskArchivists For audiovisual the need is 'digitization for preservation' - restoration not central issue

Q: archivesinfo Melissa Mannon:
haven't seen much 2 day about non-archivists helping archivists. What role can "citizen archivists" play 4 yr institution? #askarchivists
A:@SABCRadioArc SABC Radio Archive
@archivesinfo "citizen archivists" to donate radio broadcast material that was not kept, as has happened w Springbok Radio #AskArchivists

Q:jackharker Jack Harker:
@AskArchivists To all #archives - What are your main reasons for #digitization? Genealogy? Preservation? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@jackharker @AskArchivists - We digitize mainly for preservation and easier accessibility, but also due to lack of physical storing space.

Q:jamesdoeser James Doeser:
Should tweets be archived somehow? They may prove to be as useful as correspondence to future historians #askarchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@jamesdoeser Excellent idea! Would also help with accessibility of collection-content on web! #AskArchivists

Q:AskArchivists Ask Archivists:
RT @jackharker: To all #archives - What are your main reasons for #digitization? #Genealogy? Preservation? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@AskArchivists @jackharker Accessibility!

Q:ClaudeSuper Claude Super:
RT @CultureThemes: #AskArchivists how do you decide what goes into a collection? Also, how important is storage in the decision?
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@ClaudeSuper @CultureThemes Participants, production cost, availability elsewhere, request frequency - some deciding factors #AskArchivists

Q:NLWales Nat Library Wales:
How do institutions catalogue bilingual or multilingual archives? #askarchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@NLWales @SABCMediaLib We use English as cataloguing language, and indicate in metadata which language the content is #AskArchivists

Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon:
@wyorksarchives my impression and @SABCRadioArc can comment on this is that many SA archives have a huge cataloguing backlog #AskArchivists
A: @SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@the_archive @wyorksarchives @SABCRadioArc @SABCMediaLib We have a backlog problem in all of our collection due to manpower, yes! Frustrating

Q:simonrae Simon Rae:
#askarchivists - What is the biggest hindrance to your successful archiving - financial, technological or political?
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@simonrae definitely financial, but technology also plays a part, due to lack of finances. #AskArchivists

Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon:
@SABCMediaLib Do you think the national archives will have a smaller client base than you? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@the_archive I am not sure. We have different collections and different clients, though. #AskArchivists
Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon:
@SABCMediaLib interesting issue to explore - maybe the genealogy and historian user base in Africa is small but media is big? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@the_archive Also, we work with very old and recent material. I think ppl in Africa must still realize value of archives. #AskArchivists
Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon:
@SABCMediaLib yes I think you have a great catalogue and some rare materials #AskArchivists
A:
@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library
@the_archive What does your collection entail? #AskArchivists
Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon
@SABCMediaLib e.g. on family histories, state of archives in SA, links btw museums and archives http://bit.ly/eRn6N #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library
@the_archive Interesting! You are welcome to come and visit some day!

Q:MyHeritageNL MyHeritage NL:
Hi #AskArchivists, what would be your most interesting find until now?
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@MyHeritageNL A recording of Forces Favourites, a tribute program to soldiers in WWII #AskArchivists

Q:SLSarkiv sv.litt.sällskapet:
#AskArchivists Do you work a lot with schools and schoolchildren? For us in Finland this is a quite new target group: D
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@SLSarkiv We provide schools with audio of prescribed dramas and books. #AskArchivists

Q:historieonline historie-online:
For all archivists: What is YOUR favourite document in your collections, and why? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@historieonline Everything #Springbok-Radio #AskArchivists

Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon:
Archivists - what's the most frequent misunderstanding about your archive by visitors? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@the_archive That we can provide a day's audio material in two minutes #AskArchivists

Q:SLSarkiv sv.litt.sällskapet:
@GSA_EUB How is the economical crisis show in your archive or does it show at all? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library
@SLSarkiv @GSA_EUB It is hindering the digitization process #AskArchivists
Q:SLSarkiv sv.litt.sällskapet
@SABCMediaLib I can imagine. Is the digitization done by permanent staff or is it outsourced? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library
@SLSarkiv We have interns helping at the mo, but for the rest it is just the permanent staff. Slow process! #AskArchivists
Q:SLSarkiv sv.litt.sällskapet:
@SABCMediaLib The main difficulty is to get funds for digitization. We received some gov. funds for that last year #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@SLSarkiv Do you outsource? We also have a funding problem! #AskArchivists

Q:ExploringLeeds Alex:
@wyorksarchives How many queries/visits do you reckon you get a year? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@ExploringLeeds @wyorksarchives Roughly 800 #AskArchivists

Q:simonrae Simon Rae:
#AskArchivists - Archivists, do you ever get sad at the amount of stuff there is still to archive - so much stuff, so little time :-(
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@simonrae And because it is not archived yet we don't know exactly what we have. #AskArchivists

Q:the_archive Harriet Deacon:
Are there good examples of public participation in the design of strategies to increase public archives access? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@the_archive http://www.springbokradio.com/ #AskArchivists

Q:SLSarkiv sv.litt.sällskapet:
Do any of you have any Finnish material in your collections? #AskArchivists
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@SLSarkiv '39 FINNISH MIN SPEAKS IN LONDON ABT RUSSIAN ATTACK ON FINLAND, 3 WKS AFTER FINNS HAD JOINED IN THE WAR). #AskArchivists

Q:townsweb TownsWeb Archiving:
#AskArchivists How do you decide priority for #digitization? Do you consider popularity, condition, accessibility or budget? What else?
A:@SABCMediaLib SABC Media Library:
@townsweb Speed of deterioration #AskArchivists

Related posts:
Ask Archivists Day this week on Twitter
Ask Archivists Day short report back #AskArchivists
http://sabcmedialib.blogspot.com/2011/06/sabc-media-lib-askarchivists-day.html

Blog post compiled by Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit), Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives

SABC Media Lib @ AskArchivists Day

SABC Radio Archives TweetStats: (Check the link for more)

The Sabc Media Libraries 
@SABCMediaLib 
had a great day yesterday following archives from all over the world. We also took part in some very interesting discussions, and made some new friends, together with the the
SABC Radio Archives
@SABCRadioArc

Here are some stats, that are copied from TweetStats, as is suggested by 
Ask Archivists.

We suspect that the stats will continue to continue to multiply as the day/month progresses, and that this day will have a accumulative effect on connecting with archives worldwide, as well as the discussion on pertinent focus points in archives. The SABC Radio Archives Klout score also increased by +2 within a single day. 




We have also connected with some of our users, and we have created some awareness of our social activity on Twitter as well as on Facebook.

A more detailed report will follow at the end of the month.

Related posts:
Ask Archivists Day this week on Twitter
Ask Archivists Day short report back #AskArchivists

Post by Retha Buys: Custodian of the Springbok Radio collection, and request archivist in the SABC Radio Archives

Ask Archivists Day short report back #AskArchivists

@SABCRadioArc HashCloud

The Sabc Radio Archives @SABCRadioArc had a great day yesterday following archives from all over the world. We took part in some of the conversation, also by way of the SABC Media Libraries @SABCMediaLib profile.

Here are some stats, that are copied from TweetStats, as is suggested by Ask Archivists.

SABC Radio Archives TweetStats: (Check the link for more)

Timeline - see the spike because of #AskArchivists Day

The conversation @SABCRadioArc

We suspect that the stats will continue to continue to multiply as the day/month progresses, and that this day will have a accumulative effect on connecting with archives worldwide, as well as the discussion on pertinent focus points in archives. The SABC Radio Archives Klout score also increased by +2 within a single day.

We have also connected with some of our users, and we have created some awareness of our social activity on Twitter as well as on Facebook.

I will give a more detailed report at the end of the month.

Related post:
Ask Archivists Day this week on Twitter


Karen du Toit
Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives

Ask Archivists Day this week on Thursday

Poster for #AskArchivists

Ask Archivists Day is finally here this week on 9 June! The SABC Radio Archives (@SABCRadioArc) are planning to go big this year!

The Ask Archivists Day is the initiative on Twitter which is located by the hash-tag AND AskArchivists #AskArchivists.

 It is managed by Charlotte Jensen of the National Museum (National Museet) in Copenhagen (Denmark) & Anneke van Waarden-Koets of the Zealand Archive (Zeeuws Archief) in Middelburg (the Netherlands). We are very grateful that they came up with the initiative!

On June 9th 2011 archives worldwide will connect and will answer any question addressed to them on Twitter. There are over 100 archives participating (and growing) which have listed themselves on the open Google doc.See the participating archives listed.

We have a few goals for the day, which will be a working document as we go along:

• The SABC Radio Archives @SABCRadioArc will take part by tweeting about the event.
• Tweet about our participation on the day and the type of questions that we will answer. (Ask input from the whole of the SABC Media Libraries)
• The SABC Media Libraries (@SABCMediaLib) as the bigger department, which includes the SABC Record Library (@SABCRecordLib), the SABC Information Library (@SABCInfoLib), the SABC Music Library (@SABCMusicLib) and the SABC Audio Restoration (@SABCAudioRest) will also take part.
• We will try to follow as much archives as possible for the day.
• We are also using this initiative to invite personnel to familiarize them with Twitter.
• Personnel are invited to use our Facebook fan pages as status updates for the day. It automatically feeds to the respective Twitter accounts. (Especially those who do not have Twitter accounts)
• We have a short training session before the time about the use of hash tags # and mentions @.

Do you have any questions for us?

Related post:
Ask Archivist Day on June 9th 2011 on Twitter

Ask Archivists Day on June 9th 2011 on Twitter

#AskArchivists Day

Archivists are active on social networks, especially on Twitter. It is a great way to connect and to form intellectual bonds with archivists on a global scale. The SABC Radio Archives are also active on Twitter: @SABCRadioArc.

The Ask Away on #AskArchivists Day is another initiative on Twitter which is located by the hash-tag AskArchivists #AskArchivists. It is managed by Charlotte Jensen of the National Museum (National Museet) in Copenhagen (Denmark) & Anneke van Waarden-Koets of the Zealand Archive (Zeeuws Archief) in Middelburg (the Netherlands). Thank you for the inspiration, Archivists! We appreciate it!

On June 9th 2011 archives worldwide will connect and will answer any question addressed to them on Twitter. Already a number of Archives has put up their details on the open Google doc. The SABC Radio Archives have joined as well, and we try to follow Archives joining in with the #AskArchivists on Twitter.

I have copied the banner that they have made available on their blog AskArchivists, and have put it up on the post. The shortened link to it: http://bit.ly/gcsugx

Will you join us as well?

Karen du Toit

SABC Radio Archives