To generate a buzz and interest in its Explore Your Archive campaign, The National Archives (TNA) wants to create an online flashmob on Twitter from November 10 to 16, 2014. While this is a UK and Ireland-based initiative, people around the world will be able to follow and learn from the tweets — and tweet about their archival experiences. I can see this online flashmob becoming a trend for other initiatives.
TNA writes on its blog: “On Monday 10 November 2014 we want to celebrate all our wonderful archives and the invaluable work that goes into collecting, keeping and sharing the world’s memory. We hope you will lend us your voice and join our Thunderclap, to tell the world how truly exciting, relevant, diverse and fascinating archive collections are.”
TNA’s Explore Your Archive week takes place November 10 – 16, 2014.
Through the campaign, TNA invites people across the UK and Ireland to visit their local archives “where the records of your life, your community, your business, your nation and your world are collected, kept safe and made accessible.” We are reminded that archives can be found locally in government, businesses, schools, universities, private houses, and cultural organizations. TNA wants more people to “understand and value the richness and diversity of UK and Irish archives.”
During Explore Your Archive week, the organisations and people who look after archival collections will be tweeting, and TNA wants many more people to join them to say why they like archives and post photos.
Each day TNA will have a different hashtag for people to join in and connect with archives globally.
Monday, November 10: #DayInTheLife An insider’s perspective of a typical day in an archive.
Tuesday, November 11: #WW1archives An opportunity to commemorate and remember WWI ancestors and to explore the stories and records held within archive collections.
Wednesday, November 12: #askarchivists An opportunity to tweet with experts and get your questions answered – from research tips to career advice.
Thursday, November 13: #archiveselfie Create and share your archive self-portraits and any historic ‘selfies’ you find in archive collections.
Friday, November 14: #archiveanimals Share animal stories and pictures you find in archive collections.
Saturday, November 15: I love to #explorearchives Tell what archives mean to you.
To learn more about this initiative, visit the .
