A Study on the Current Status of an Archive Village Project and Its Improvement Plan: The Case of I County

Abstract

In 2008, the National Archives of Korea initiated the Archive Village project for the purpose of protecting valuable private records and enhancing the awareness of archival culture. To justify the expense of the government-supported project and determine its future direction, it is necessary to analyze the current status of the project. To do that, the researchers visited an Archive Village in I county and examined its accessibility, exhibition contents, facilities, equipment, etc., through observation. Interviews were also conducted with the person in charge of the project in the National Archives of Korea, as well as eight residents and three persons who were involved in building and managing the Archive Village in I county. Based on the results of the observation and interviews, the study suggests recommendations to improve the operation of the Archive Village in I county. The findings of the study will help other villages plan acquisition and management, as well as how to make important private records in local areas available.