Connecting Community Archives Lorna Elms National Museum of Ireland Connecting Community Archives

What is iCAN? The Irish Community Archive Network is a 2008 - 2016 What is iCAN? The Irish Community Archive Network is a National Museum of Ireland Community Engagement initiative that: Encourages, Supports & Equips communities in collecting, preserving & sharing local history & heritage material online, in a way that reflects best practice Aims: To support the collective curation of public history through the development of contributory community archive websites Ethos: Respect, Accessibility, Inclusivity, Collaboration, Engagement, Partnership

The iCAN member archives 2016

The iCAN Framework How does iCAN operate? Project Coordinator (Part-time, Education Dept., NMI) Organises regular meetings @ Museum Assists groups in setting goals Motivation, guidance, mentoring & advice Develops & delivers training modules Editorial checks & recommendations Promotes project through presentations/conferences Administers national archive website: ‘home’ of iCAN Gateway access to Museum skills & expertise Network Administrator (iCAN member & volunteer) Technical Support Develops & delivers technical training (some paid) Visits groups in the community

Project Evaluation June 2016 Why Review? Objectives: Commenced an external evaluation process Overseen by representative Steering Group Why Review? Project running for 8 years Growth initially incremental: @ one per year 2013 – 2016 saw rapid expansion More resources needed to facilitate further growth Recognition for communities Objectives: Objective external assessment of project development & achievements Explore attitudes of community groups to iCAN Develop a roadmap for the future

Assessment Extracts from final report ‘iCAN has delivered a range of beneficial outputs/outcomes for the groups, the project promoters, and the local communities involved.’ ‘The project has had a global reach with more than 390,000 users and 1.85 million page views’ ‘The participatory nature of the website has seen contributions from the wider Diaspora leading to overseas visitors returning to their ancestral homes.’

Assessment ‘More importantly, the project has strengthened local communities through fostering engagement with, and new relationships between all members of civic society, upskilling and confidence-building activities, heritage-based community development initiatives, and instilling greater awareness and appreciation for local areas.’ ‘These benefits outweigh the total investment in the project and exceed any expectations that the promoters initially had for it as a pilot project.’

Assessment ‘iCAN has pioneered a model of effectively delivering community archives in partnership with other stakeholders, and the communities themselves.’

What Have We Learned? Operational The iCAN model What Have We Learned? Operational Coordinator/Network Administrator roles crucial All websites need to have same/similar CMS Importance of using contributory platforms Having a ‘Home’ website gives invaluable insights Importance of managing expectations Be clear what you are offering Be clear in what you expect/level of commitment Benefits of a partnership approach Look for partners that can add value Shared learning, peer mentorship, ‘Buddy Groups’ The process is as important as the product

What Have We Learned? Community Groups The iCAN model What Have We Learned? Community Groups All groups are different: need some flexibility Usually rely on 1 or 2 people to develop website. Can be overwhelming. Need support of their group. Find being guided ‘step by step’ is re-assuring Have a huge thirst for training: Technical Content-driven Appreciate guidance around engaging their wider community Identify ‘sharing experience’ with others as important Peer mentoring/buddy group system of huge benefit Travelling long distances to meetings/training can be an obstacle

The process is as important as the product “the iCAN project has been a very positive experience for our group. At the start we looked at it as a "build a website project" but it has been so much more. It has provided us with an active, supportive, inclusive and informative network who have the ability to work together for the good of all groups in a very  encouraging manner.”   Moylough Heritage Society The process is as important as the product

Thank You! For more information: www.ouririshheritage.org Contact me: lelms@museum.ie With thanks to the iCAN website provider: www.communitysites.co.uk

iCAN Outputs

The Mary Robinson Centre Meitheal is the Irish word for a work team, gang, or party and denotes the co-operative labour system in Ireland where groups of neighbours help each other in turn with farming work, such as harvesting crops.  Neighbours who give their work to others are helped in turn with their own heavy seasonal tasks.   At the heart of the concept is community unity through cooperative work and mutually reciprocal support.   Meitheal is the Irish expression of the ancient and universal appliance of cooperation to social need. The Mary Robinson Centre Mary Robinson, President of Ireland, 1990 - 1997