Inserting librarians into the Canadian oral history conversation

Canadian archivists played prominent roles in collecting, preserving, and conducting oral history interviews as early as recording technology allowed interviews to be recorded. This conference paper discusses archivists' involvement in the early days of Canadian oral history, the debates they held regarding their engagement, and some implications that their activity has had. Academics currently dominate the field in Canada; however, librarians are poised to have a stronger presence in the future. Librarians have begun to engage as both interviewers and supporters of oral history practice: they are initiating projects as well as providing digital repositories, equipment, and makerspaces.