2. Why did we start the Merton Memories Project?
• Lack of public awareness of photographic collection
• Limited use of existing photo archive
• Need to improve public access to historic material
• Need to develop the photographic collection
• Requests for digitisation from stakeholders

3. Links to the Merton Heritage Strategy
• Preserving and recording local history
• Increasing knowledge / awareness of Heritage
• Partnership opportunities
• Developing audiences
• Lifelong learning
• Tourism potential

4. The Basis of the Merton Memories Bid
• Opportunities to work with local volunteers
• Partnership work with community groups and
heritage stakeholders
• Developing new skills :
Conservation, digitisation, research and display
• Improved collections care
• Digitisation of 15,000 images and creation of a
photo database
• Website to allow public viewing of
the Merton photographic collection
•Exhibitions
•Resource packs for local schools
•Public events and outreach

5. Project Volunteers: •26 volunteers recruited
•Aged 15 – 70
•Mix of retired, unemployed,
students and working people
wishing to make use of their skills
and interests.
•Area breakdown:
2 Colliers Wood
1 Merton Park
5 Mitcham
7 Morden
1 Raynes Park
5 Wimbledon
2 Wimbledon Park
3 Carshalton borders
•Working a range of 3 – 8 hours
per week

6. Volunteers have completed the following training:
Induction
Catalogue training
Image matching
Digitisation
Pastview training / Metadata entry
Local History training
Picture research
Introduction to Merton Memories website
Photo conservation training
Display training

7. Progress to Date:
15,000 images processed, catalogued and scanned
5 outreach events held to promote project
4 teenage volunteers completed work experience
placements with the project
Merton Memories volunteers commended at the annual
Volunteer celebration including nominations and awards
Basic data entries completed for all scanned material
with ongoing addition of information from research or
public submission

8. Website produced allowing access to Merton images and 170
pictures supplied by heritage stakeholders
4 stakeholder meetings held with unanimous praise for project
and work of volunteers
4 meetings staged to involve local teachers in the planning of
school resources
Project promoted on Twitter, Facebook and the Merton website.
Articles in the local Guardian, My Merton,
Volunteer newsletter, library e newsletter and stakeholder
bulletins

9. Website Details
Merton Memories
homepage

10. Advanced search page

11. Search by Collection

12. Drop down menus allow you to drill
down to find sub collections

13. Sample image page

14. Search by area

15. Drop-down help offers
area guidance and lists
key sites

16. Photo order preview

17. Contact page for customers to submit queries or information