A survey of the management of band club archives in Malta and Gozo

Abstract

This study deals with the management of archives in band clubs. In Malta and Gozo there are in total ninety band clubs which are non-profit organisations and are administered by a committee. Band clubs nowadays do not only host a band but also own other components such as a fireworks factory, and street decorations. Band clubs form a core element in the Maltese society. External feast celebrations are mainly organised by the band club. Evidently, such clubs generate a considerable amount of records due to their importance in society. Thus, the management of band club archives in Malta and Gozo was a subject worth of research as it has never been studied before. The purpose of the research was to examine and analyse in detail how records in band clubs are being acquired, preserved, retrieved, and accessed. Four main areas were studied: Accession tackled the acquisition of records, Preservation analysed ways that were used to preserve the records, Finding Aids examined tools to facilitate the retrieval of information within the collections and, Accessibility researched the characteristic methods adopted by band clubs to access the collections. A qualitative research method was applied. The data retrieved is demonstrated through a number of tables including comparisons between questions, timelines and districts to fully exhibit similarities and differences between band clubs. The outcome of this research is compiled in the form of recommendations in Chapter 8 and also in a handbook. Through the conducted research it is possible now to advise band clubs to appoint a distinctive records manager for the administrative collection. Also, it is now possible to recommend that all records should be kept within the band club’s premises and that a back-up of every record is kept in a different location within the band club. The recommendations are purposely tailored for band clubs, are feasible, and cost-effective. The measures proposed, if adopted, are meant to give an impetus to, and considerably improve the management of records in band clubs.