By Camille Moret, University Archivist.

Every year, the international council on Archives (ICA) celebrates archives for an entire week, culminating (or this year, starting) with International Archives Day, on the 9^th of June. This time, the theme is #ArchivesAreAccessible: Archives for Everyone. It is about how archivists, records managers, and institutions are making significant strides in increasing the accessibility of archival materials. From digitization projects to user-friendly online archives, the global archival community is working together to create a future where access to historical records is equitable and far-reaching. 

Those of us who know Loughborough University Archive (LUA) are aware that this is a very small service with an even smaller team that however has the privilege to be nestled within the Open Research team. So, while this year’s celebration is no cause for announcing significant strides, we can still say that we are trying very hard to make more content accessible in many more innovative ways than we used to do. 

We have been collaborating with our own Open Research Manager for Data and Methods, Lara Skelly, on two projects. One is a pairing of the Open Research repository with the archives catalogue on AtoM so that users can access our newly digitalised collection of historical College Publications. The other is an attempt at 3D modelisation of material that are not readily accessible or even legible, aka not your traditional written record. We have started with the University Charter, seal and all; and we are hoping it can be made available online in time for the Anniversary of our becoming a University in 1966. 

Another thing that has kept us busy for the first half of 2025 is the online cataloguing of the historical Loughborough College fonds, up to current archival standards. The original finding aids had a more librarian and/or museum studies approach when provenance (who created the record) and original order (which activities and functions generated the record) are the usual keys to an archives catalogue. We have been cross-referencing artificial collections and breaking format silos to bring together the historical records of Loughborough College (1902-1952, so half of what makes us the University now). This online catalogue will help users find what they need without them having to “know” that this is what they are looking for. Hopefully, our new take on it will facilitate serendipitous research and, with the addition of proxies or links to the Repository, it will support more immediate access. 

We were pleased to see the work of one of our most dedicated researchers come to fruition this Spring: the book Where history begins. Loughborough’s journey through sport by Eric Macintyre MBE just came out. Spanning the entire existence of the College and University, it draws on archival resources as well as oral history and what we could call collaborative memorialisation of the institution that is sports at Loughborough. We are hoping to get an online version on the Open Research Repository soon, so that it is accessible beyond our communities of staff and alumni. 

Finally, we have been thinking about how to transform our work to offer digital surrogates of the University stain glass panel collection into something that will look (and feel!) more like virtual reality. More of that, soon!