Oral History kit

Using the ACT Heritage Library oral history recording resources

Oral history is one of the ways history can be recorded and has the benefit of people telling their own stories in their own voice. Oral history projects need time and funding to develop, research, organise and record. The ACT Heritage Library is keen to support and collect oral history projects that relate to its collecting priorities.

What does the ACT Heritage Library collect?

The ACT Heritage Library collects materials which document the social, cultural, economic and political history of Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory. This includes books, journals, newspapers, archives, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, maps, plans, reports and original materials such as manuscripts and oral histories.

What does the ACT Heritage Library require for an oral history project?

• A subject that fits the ACT Heritage Library collection
• Deposit of the digital copies of the interviews in .wav format for preservation and mp3 for access
• Deposit of timed summaries and any written summaries or transcriptions on the interview, in .doc or .pdf format
• Signed copy of the agreement between interviewee and the project organiser including permission to make the recording and products available for use

As a guide you may like to look at oral histories already in the ACT Heritage Library Collection. These can be accessed in the ACT Heritage Library reading room and/or via the library’s catalogue.

What assistance does the ACT Heritage Library provide?

• Loan of oral history recording kits for 6 weeks (can be extended depending on the project)
• Advice on your project
• Access to final recording and related materials in the ACT Heritage Library reading room, on the website and via social media channels
• Description of recordings, summaries and transcriptions provided in the Libraries ACT catalogue and findable via Trove.

Contents of the oral history kits:

• Zoom H4n Pro or Zoom H5 Handy Recorder x 1
• Zoom H4n Pro or Zoom H5 Handy Recorder operation manual x1
• Microphones (2)
  • Rode NT5 microphone kit with product manual in hard case x1
  • Rode Podcaster microphones x2
• Microphone stand and base x 2
• Microphone cables x2
• USB card reader and cable x 1
• Oral History Handbook by Beth Robertson x1
• AA batteries x 2
• SD card x 2
• Thumb drive x1 for oral history recordings, summaries, or transcriptions that will be deposited into the ACT Heritage Library collection.

Supporting documents:

• ACT Heritage Library 'Oral history basics' document

• Examples of timed summaries

• Guidelines for using ACT Heritage Library oral history recording resources

• Blank forms for agreement between the interviewee and the ACT Heritage Library

• List of kit contents

Process:

To borrow an oral history kit, you must have discussed your project with the ACT Heritage library and agreed to deposit copies of your recordings in the collection.

Kits may be borrowed from the ACT Heritage Library, 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick during opening hours. They may not be borrowed from public library branches.

Kits must be returned to the ACT Heritage Library during opening hours. They may not be returned through the public library after hours return chutes.

Contact details:

Electronic form

P: 02 62075163

ACT Heritage Library hours are:
Monday - Friday 9.30 am - 5 pm
Saturday 10 am - 4 pm