Magazine archive (New Statesman, '78-'00), how to find a good new home?

February 23, 2016 10:50 AM

We have a large archive of the UK New Statesman weekly political affairs, commentary and arts magazine, from 1978 to 2000, and we are trying to find a good new home. We're not looking to sell the collection, just send it on to somewhere it can be a resource for others. Can anyone recommend any other librarianship forums or suchlike where we should offer it up? (It's stored in Brighton, England.)

Through a friend, we have put out feelers on "LIS-LINK" (a UK education-library mailing list) but suspect that UK university libraries probably have complete collections of NS already (but if you know one that doesn't and could benefit, please say so!)

The collection is not entirely complete (missing approx 48 editions out of that entire time span) and is a mix of the official bound-volume collections (well, the official subscriber-collecting binders) and loose editions, but it is all "managed" and we know precisely what we do and don't have.

The period is one where the magazine was more focussed on pushing forward the boundaries of investigative journalism, especially during the 1970s and 1980s. We have this archive because my partner used to write for them.

posted by BuxtonTheRed to Society & Culture (2 answers total)

I'm sorry to say I'm not sure your collection has much value as reading material. As you rightfully observe, it's not a particularly rare or uncommon collection. I would imagine overseas libraries might prefer a donation of the cost of shipping rather than the magazines themselves.

Rather, I'd think about contacting a reuse/art supply store.
posted by bluedaisy at 11:29 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Have you tried the Hyman Archive? They're accepting donations.
posted by srednivashtar at 11:34 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]