Participatory archives in a world of ubiquitous media

The media environment of today is characterised by two critical factors: the development and adoption of ubiquitous mobile devices, and the strengthening of connectivity enabled by advances in ICT infrastructure and social media platforms. These developments have changed interactions and relationships between citizens and cultural custodians, as well as the ways archives are developed, kept, and used. Archives are now characterised by greater socialisations and networks that actively contribute to the signification of cultural heritage value. A range of new stakeholders, many of whom include the public, have sought to define what needs to be collectively remembered and forgotten. The world in which one or a few professional archivists worked on the sole mission of shaping how a society remembers is being displaced by a more democratised culture and the new generation of digitally networked archivists that are its natives. Using a range of case studies and perspectives, this book provides insights to the many ways that ubiquitous media have influenced archival practices and research, as well as the social and civic consequences of present-day archives.

This book was published as a special issue of Archives and Manuscripts.

Natalie Pang is an Assistant Professor at the School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. Her primary research interest is in participatory archives and civic engagement, and information behaviour in contexts of new media and crises.

Liew Kai Khiun is an Assistant Professor at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at the Nanyang Technological University. His research interests include Popular Culture Studies, Cultural Memories and Heritage Studies.

Brenda Chan is an independent scholar with research interests in the relationships between new media, heritage and memories.