Written by:
Sophia de Sousa
On 8 May we co-hosted an event with The Open University and Historic England for national bodies working with communities to shape their places. The objective of the day was to share the various programmes we are all doing, explore the initiatives we would like to do and then to consider how we might to connect and share our projects and resources through a kind of collaborative economy. It was a powerful day and demonstrated very quickly that we could do more together than alone. It also showed that sometimes unlikely collaborations can emerge through conversation and through discovering that we different organisations are working to many of the same objectives, if from different vantage points.
There were many rich ideas that emerged throughout the day, and some common threads seemed to pop up at every table and working group. There were conversations around the importance of community anchors and supporting them in their acquisition and stewardship of building and spaces, and in particular, when revitalising heritage buildings. There was also much discussion about democratising heritage and on the complexity of heritage not only in its built form, but also in the cultures, communities and stories of every place.
On a practical note, we spoke about the many types and uses of mapping, from cataloguing cultural assets and initiatives to mapping the groups, activities and services within a community. There was much talk of the value of telling stories, warts and all, and of case studies that not only celebrate the wins, but that also reflect on and share learning from the challenges. We also talked about the very many resources that we and others produce and asked ourselves challenging questions about how to make them more useful, accessible and relevant to both communities and the professionals working with them to shape places.
It was this discussion about resources that really captured my attention, perhaps because at The Glass-House we are currently looking at how to open source as much of our learning as possible and to enable as many people and organisations as possible to do what we do.
In Sharing Learning, Tools and Methods, What Does Accessible Mean?
As we all continue to produce more and more resources, how can anyone know where to find them or cope with sifting through them all to identify the right resource for their needs? When projects, programmes and organisations come to an end, how can we ensure that the learning and resources they have produced remain visible and accessible? Even if we managed to produce a beautiful resource library for any one organisation or that brings the work of several organisations together, what form should it take and how could we really make it useful?
Digital vs In-person
One of the initial points we explored on this theme was what form a resource library might take. Digital libraries and databases do have some advantages. They are searchable, can hold a large volume of content and are accessible from multiple locations. And yet, they feel different from the libraries of yester year. They are harder to browse, feel somehow a step removed, and perhaps because of the volume of data they can contain, sometimes feel overwhelming.
Many of us still produce print publications and physical resources and props because we feel they can help people work together. Collaborative design and placemaking is aided by bringing people together and sometimes tactile resources, and the act of working with them together in a physical space, simply makes them more effective. So how do we bridge that gap between the ease of digital dissemination and the sharing and activation of physical tools and resources?
When speaking about resources to help people and communities to work together to shape their places, is there inevitably a physical aspect to consider? Do these resources only come alive when contextualised within real places? If so, what role do the different players within a place take on when using them? Who has the power to convene and use them, and which spaces are appropriate for their use? How does learning and knowledge of these tools transfer from one community and or location to another?
Making Resources Live
We asked the challenging question of how useful resources can be if they are simply deposited in a repository, whether digital or physical, and came round to the idea that, as with most things, the connection with people is key. Together, we came up with a few ideas around roles that we think should sit alongside any resource library. Here is my interpretation of some of these ideas:
- The Librarian
When we think about visiting physical libraries, one immediately thinks of the incredibly important role of the librarian. This person has practical oversight of the contents of the library, knows where to find things and amazingly seems to always know a little bit about pretty much every subject contained therein. The librarian is our guide, our connector to the things we need. When our librarian gets to know us, they are also able to point us to the things they think we would like, or the style of resource that works best for us.
- The Curator
The curator of any collection plays an invaluable role in organising, and packaging pieces around themes, areas of interest, and brings them to life through carefully considered programmes, events and exhibitions. The curator is able to put things together to make them topical, relevant and attractive.
- The Enabler / Facilitator
When we produce open-source resources, we try to make them as accessible and useful as possible, but it is inevitable that not everyone will feel able to take them into a real-world context and apply them. Whether due to confidence, experience of position within a community or project, some people are better placed than others to bring people together to use a resource produced by others. We need enablers or facilitators able to pick up, use and adapt the resources to their projects and locales.
- The Trainer
Some of the resources we produce are not quite so straight forward and harder to simply pick up and use without some kind of training, and may be linked to accreditation or kite marks. For this reason, some resources will require training, whether in-person or online to help empower others to use them. The trainer, therefore, has a vital role in helping to give others the confidence and skills (and perhaps licence) to use specific resources.
- The Mentor
Sometimes, it’s just useful to talk to someone who has used a particular open-source resource, pick their brain about how it worked for them, and seek some encouragement and advice. This may be as simple as sharing their experience of a particular aspect of a process, or simply having someone who is familiar with the resource to bounce ideas around with. The mentor can play a vital role in helping to make a resource feel approachable and adaptable.
- The Champion
Word of mouth is a powerful thing, and a champion can play a vital role in simply raising awareness about which resources are available. A champion may have used, encountered or simply heard about a resource, but if they are able to point someone in the direction, that is a vital step in extending its impact and reach.
Several of us who were at the event are keen to continue this conversation and to experiment with sharing and animating our resources in new ways. I know that all of this will be on our minds at The Glass-House as we continue to develop some kind of resource library of our own and to connect it into communities and the work of others.
Watch this space and if you have any ideas and would like to join the conversation, drop us a line.