Oral history preserves everyone's past for the future. Oral history brings a new dimension to local and family history. Oral history is used in community and residential work with older people to encourage a sense of worth and continued contribution to society. Oral history in museums, galleries and heritage displays is used to inform and brings displays to life. Oral history collections at local archives and libraries have emerged as important new sources for all those interested in history.
Oral history is an important source for many radio and television programmes.
The Oral History Society is a national and international organisation dedicated to the collection and preservation of oral history. It encourages people of all ages to tape, video or write down their own and other people's life stories. It offers practical support and advice about how to get started , what equipment to use, what techniques are best, how to look after tapes, and how to make use of what you have collected. In conjunction with the British Library National Sound Archive, it also holds one-day oral history training courses . The Society's members come from all backgrounds with different occupations and interests but share a common love of the past.