Botswana National Archives and Records Services opens private archives

| Friday October 10, 2008 00:00

The event will be held at the National Archives and Records Services building near parliament.

The theme of the event is 'Private Archives: Towards a Strategic Partnership in the Preservation of the National Documentary Heritage'.

This theme was chosen to reflect the deliberate effort made by the department in partnering with different stakeholders in raising awareness on the importance of acquiring, preserving and accessing our national documentary heritage.

Initially the National Archives Act of 1978 only made provision for the management of Public Archives. However the department has been proactive in requesting private archives and has to date made progress in acquiring collections from different stakeholders including missionaries, churches, associations, imminent persons and politicians.

The programme of acquiring Private Archives has been given further impetus by the passing of the Amendment Act of October 2007 that expanded the definition of archives to include private Archives.

The progress made also reflects the constant interest and strong support rendered by the Government in the realization of a balanced approach in the preservation of the nation's cultural heritage.

By diversifying our national documentary heritage the Botswana National Archives and Records Services enables greater access to information, appeal to a wider audience and increased use of archives.

It is hoped that the collection will be of interest to the public for research and leisure reading.

The programme will remain sustainable from continued support by way of donations to the department from private individuals and private organisations.

This will ensure that as a nation we collectively pass our documented experiences to the present and future generations.

The Botswana National Archives and Records Services will continue to take constructive steps to collect, preserve and make the collection accessible to the general public in order to achieve the national Vision 2016 pillars of 'An Educated, Informed Nation,' and 'A United and Proud Nation' over its unique documented heritage.