In 2021, the Tacoma Public Library received a nearly $250,000 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to develop and launch the Community Archives Center, opens a new window. Over the past two years, the Project Team, in collaboration with dozens of community partners, has built a robust new collection of community-centered content now available in Northwest ORCA, opens a new window. The project has also hosted community programs, like Salishan Story Fest, opens a new window and Hilltop Story Fest, opens a new window, partnered with educators and students, opens a new window, and recorded dozens of oral history interviews, opens a new window.
In addition to building a new community collection for Tacoma, a major component of this project was to create a model for other libraries that may be interested in taking on similar community-focused projects. The Community Archives Center Toolkit, opens a new window, developed collaboratively by Tacoma Public Library and the University of Washington, is now available to serve as a guide for libraries and archives as they engage with their communities to build more inclusive and representative local collections.
The guide is available in both web, opens a new window and PDF, opens a new window formats. Over the next year, the Project Team will be sharing the Toolkit through professional publications, podcasts, workshops, and more.
For more information, contact communityarchives@tacomalibrary.org.
