Every archive contains stories worth telling. The challenge isn't finding them, it's bringing them to life. Discover why organisations across every sector are investing in storytelling, what heritage organisations can learn from leading brands, and how archives, museums, libraries and local history societies can transform collections into engaging content that attracts visitors, volunteers, supporters and funding.

Volunteers have always been the quiet backbone of heritage work. They sort the boxes nobody else has time for, transcribe the documents that would otherwise remain unreadable, and carry in their memories the contextual knowledge that no catalogue entry can fully capture. This guide explores how libraries, museums and historical societies can find the right volunteers, involve them meaningfully, reach them remotely, make them feel genuinely valued, and perhaps critically, capture what they know before it is gone.

Every community has a history worth keeping but photographs fade, documents deteriorate, and social media was never built to preserve what matters. This complete guide covers everything heritage organisations, libraries, museums, and community groups need to know about building a digital archive: from your first collection audit to choosing a platform, engaging contributors, and keeping your collection safe for the long term.

Public libraries hold irreplaceable local history. This guide covers what digital preservation means in practice, how to get started, and how community contribution builds a collection that outlasts any single project.

Heritage funders no longer just want to know what you're preserving, they want to know who's involved. This guide helps archives, libraries, museums and historical societies demonstrate meaningful community engagement in their funding applications, with practical advice on measurable impact, legacy outcomes, and the digital tools that make participation visible.

Unidentified photographs are one of the biggest challenges facing community archives and local history collections. This article explores why identities are lost over time, how organisations traditionally approach photo identification, and how modern digital tools (including facial recognition) can support research without sacrificing ethics or control. Discover practical strategies to turn unknown faces into lasting historical knowledge.

Social media has become the default place where communities share their history, but it was never designed to preserve it. From lost early 2000s photos to comments and context disappearing over time, this article explores why Facebook isn’t a reliable home for local history and how libraries and historical societies can create a digital space they truly control.

Community anniversaries are powerful moments to reconnect people with place, surface overlooked stories, and preserve shared history. But the most meaningful celebrations go beyond one-off events. This article explores creative, practical ways libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies can use anniversaries to collect stories, engage communities, and build lasting digital resources that continue to grow long after the milestone year has passed.

Modern digital archives do far more than preserve historical records. From creating instant videos and social media content to supporting genealogy research, community storytelling and privacy-aware facial recognition, today’s archives are dynamic platforms for engagement. This article explores ten powerful (and often unexpected) ways digital archives can bring heritage to life, grow community participation and turn collections into living, evolving resources.

Digitising an archive is no longer the end goal…it’s the starting point. Today’s audiences expect stories, videos, and interactive experiences, not static repositories. This article explores how heritage organisations can move beyond preservation to activate their archives as living content engines. From video creation and podcasts to virtual tours and community storytelling, it shows how modern digital tools can transform archives into dynamic, shareable resources that build connection, relevance, and long-term engagement.

Oral histories preserve the voices, memories and lived experiences that shape your community. This guide shares five simple ways museums, libraries, and local heritage groups can record oral and video stories using YourArchive (no specialist equipment needed). Preserve the past, capture the present, and inspire the future by documenting and sharing the voices of your community.

Every community has a story, but too often, those stories fade as photos, memories, and conversations disappear into social media timelines or over time. This article explores how YourArchive turns fleeting online moments into permanent, living records of local heritage. From facial recognition that links generations of photographs to community storytelling that preserves context and connection, discover how digital archives can bring people together and strengthen the identity of the places we call home.

Communities, clubs, and heritage groups are reimagining the traditional time capsule for the digital age. Instead of burying a metal box, they’re using YourArchive to build interactive, online collections filled with photos, videos, stories, and memories. From milestone celebrations to annual reveals, it’s an engaging way to capture your shared history and keep people connected long after the event is over.

America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate local history, connect generations, and preserve your community’s stories. In this post, we share five meaningful ways to mark the Semiquincentennial, from digitising archives and recording oral histories to engaging residents through storytelling projects. With YourArchive, every community can easily capture, organise, and share its legacy for future generations.