The application of oral history methodology in developing the Selangor State Collection: the experience of the Raja Tun Uda Library, Shah Alam

Abstract

The discourse of this article is in regards to the methodological approach pertaining to the oral history and applied initiatives in developing the Selangor State Collection. The Selangor State Collection is a unique collection of a centralized body of information gathered concerning the Selangor State from both primary and secondary sources. The library’s statistics indicate that there is a high demand from its users to obtain information from primary sources especially in oral format in order to support their research. This represents a significant challenge for the management of the library owing to the lack of experience and expertize in conducting oral history research projects. As an integral institution of information within the state of Selangor, the Raja Tun Uda Library plays an essential role through the means of formulating new strategies that are economical in meeting the demands and needs of its users. In line with the mandate and envisioned goals of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, the active involvement of the library is incumbent towards the promoted advancement and administration of the collection of Selangor’s rich history, heritage and vast culture. Since 2012, the Raja Tun Uda Library began its collaborative efforts with various parties of which are inclusive of historians, tertiary institutions, associations and local communities, to redocument, recapture, reconstruct and rebuild the past through the prescribed methodological procedure of oral history. The active promotion and dissemination of these comprehensive findings in an effort to inspire learning and research relates to the treasures of transmitted local heritage.