The Playwork Foundation has been discussing why our profession lacks a collective archive or historic record.
Is it because we are poorly paid, have limited job security, and are not recognised by the world around us that we, in turn, undervalue our history?
Is it that tight budgets leave little time for preserving work and records, unlike in the sciences or the arts?
Instances of lost documents from updated websites, or websites lost altogether, highlight the need, even in the digital realm, for future-proofing.
Think Joni Mitchell and Big Yellow Taxi – “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.
We want to pose the following questions and thoughts about creating an archive/library for play and playwork:
Who will want our records? Will anyone care after we’re gone? Should we discard them during our “death cleaning“?
What materials do you have that you’d want preserved for the sector?
What items do you possess? Books, personal materials, photos, videos, audio, diaries, training materials, pamphlets, leaflets.
What about digital archives? Where will current websites be archived in the future?
Who already has archives? Adventure playgrounds, play organisations — can we start today signposting or curating a directory for these existing collections?
What would your dream play and playwork archive look like? A play space with children playing while reading about it, or a solemn, silent library?
Leave a comment below or contact us.
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