Reimagining local studies in Devon: Reclaiming the local community’s published heritage in an age of austerity
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 30 July 2019
Issue publication date: 15 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect that government austerity policies has had on local studies in Devon and suggest a possible alternative means of maintaining local studies’ collections.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents an historical survey of local studies provision in the county since the nineteenth century and outlines the present local studies’ landscape.
Findings
The findings show that local studies’ provision has been severely affected by eight years of progressive cuts to public library funding and that present publications, both printed and digital, are no longer being adequately recorded.
Practical implications
This paper suggests that in Devon, the museum sector may be a more appropriate home for local studies’ library provision than are archive services.
Social implications
Volunteers in libraries, museums and archives across Devon will be involved in maintaining a union catalogue and a bibliography of local publications.
Originality/value
While this is a suggested solution for Devon, it may not be applicable in regions with different traditions of heritage provision.
Keywords
Citation
Maxted, I. (2019), "Reimagining local studies in Devon: Reclaiming the local community’s published heritage in an age of austerity", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 68 No. 8/9, pp. 703-711. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-01-2019-0007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited