UC Irvine Libraries

The goal of the TKTL Summit is to bring together scholars, educators, library professionals, students, and community members to explore the intersection of community archives and ethnic studies theory and practice. More specifically, the summit seeks to foster dialogue and action around three questions:

What is the impact of putting community archives practice, ethnic studies theory, and grassroots efforts to preserve marginalized histories into conversation?

What are the ways in which students can address the silences and historical erasures prevalent in the archival record by becoming record creators?

How can we sustain resources and prioritize transformative reciprocity to address historical erasure and silences in the archives?

About TKTL

In Spring 2017, the UCI Libraries was awarded a 3-year Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant in the community anchors category for “Transforming Knowledge/Transforming Libraries.” This three-year research project explored the outcomes of undergraduate students applying what they learn in ethnic studies combined with lived experience in contributing to community archives. The research team (Audra Eagle Yun, Jimmy Zavala, Thuy Vo Dang, and Krystal Tribbett) partnered with the UCI departments of Asian American Studies, Chicano/Latino Studies and African American Studies, as well as stakeholders representing organizations throughout Orange County, California. Additionally, this collaborative partnership worked to connect library and information studies practice with the ethnic studies curriculum and provide undergraduate students with first-hand experience in building and providing access to the digital cultural heritage of under-represented communities.