CommUnity: Your Archive, Your Legacy
Welcome to CommUnity, a collaborative program that provides access to archival knowledge and resources at participating branch libraries across the greater Los Angeles area. Home to people from around the world with diverse lived experiences, LA holds many unique stories that shape our communities and the city. Through public programming, services, and pop-up events, Angelenos will have access to resources to begin archiving or preserving these stories, with the option to add to a growing participatory community archive at LAPL.
We invite you to begin or add to your archive by checking out an oral history kit, attending a workshop, or signing up to use the DIY scanning stations at the nearest participating branch.
What stories do you want to capture and preserve for future generations?
Programs & Workshops
- Attend a workshop for hands-on lessons about archiving basics, how to start an oral history project, and more!
- Sign up for an info session on how to digitize your materials
DIY Archiving & Oral History
- Check out an oral history kit or reserve a scanner to digitize your materials
- Instructions and guides available for all equipment
- More details on how to access these resources are below.
Programs & Workshops
Join us and learn to preserve your memories for future generations. Whether they end up in an archive or your own personal collection, understanding what you have and how to protect it ensures a longer life for your materials. Programs will offer hands-on lessons, resources, and opportunities to engage with LA’s rich history through archives at LAPL and beyond, covering topics such as:
- Tools and essentials for starting an oral history project
- Preserving photographs and curating family albums
- Archiving basics and DIY methods
Recurring DIY Archives: Info Sessions on how to use the archival scanner are available at all three branches, in-person or virtually. Each session is unstructured and can cover digitization basics, including archive-safe handling, and plenty of time for Q&A. Drop in to an in-person session. Sign up for the next virtual session using Eventbrite.
Calendar of Programs & Workshops
Attend a workshop for hands-on lessons about archiving basics, how to start an oral history project, and more!
Oral History Backpacks
Our circulating oral history backpacks are available for patrons with cards in good standing for up to 3a H1 Essential weeks. Each backpack includes: H1essential Zoom recorder, a microphone cover, a tripod, and a guidebook on how to use the recorder and start your own oral history project.
Before checking out an oral history kit, you will need to sign a user agreement, available at the circulation desk at participating branches. Patrons with library cards in good standing may check out a kit for three weeks at a time. No holds or renewals. Visit the circulation desk at the nearest participating branch to sign up.
Do you have VHS tapes or audio reels? Reserve a spot at the DIY Memory Lab, where you can digitize your audio-visual materials.
Advisory Group
Mark Byrd, Compton Art & History Museum, Color Compton
Abigail Lopez-Byrd, Compton Art & History Museum, Color Compton
Stella Castillo, USC
Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Ed.D., Octavia E. Butler Scholar, 2019 Kennedy Center Citizen Artist
Dario Herrera, Clockshop
Astrid Kayembe, Black Image Center
Debra Scacco, Artist
Michelle Wamungu, PhD Student in Media Arts and Practice at USC
Shanice Watkins, USC
CommUnity Team
Aza Babayan, Program Manager
Kiara Walls, Community Archivist
This program is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through a Public Knowledge Grant in partnership with the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Public Library.
Graphic design by Firebrand Creative House. Images in banner collage from the Shades of L.A. Photo Collection