Museums, libraries and archives have a key role to play in terms of supporting local democracy and encouraging participation in civic and civil life. It is important that local authorities recognise the contribution that they can make to delivery of this duty and that museums, libraries and archives are ready to meet this challenge and contribute to the local democracy agenda.
What can museums, libraries and archives do to support the delivery of the ‘duty to promote democracy’?
Libraries:
- supporting democracy through access to information on how and where to vote and providing impartial information about democratic choice.
- providing information about how people can become a councillor or get involved in other civil roles
Archives:
- supporting democracy by keeping accessible records which support the democratic process and help to ensure accountability.
Museums:
- inspiring interest in democracy through their historical collections rights e.g. Suffragettes, Black History Month, Civil Rights Movement
- working with schools to contribute to the Citizenship curriculum and encourage young people to become interested in politics, democracy and their community.
Museums, libraries and archives:
- Timely displays and information on relevant issues may inspire people to become more active in their communities.
- Hosting and running events during Local Democracy Week.
- Specific web-based initiatives e.g. Europe Direct Leeds, which aims to link local people with the European Union, the message being that ‘all politics is local’.
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