Tour Program in Archives: Case Study for the Presidential Archives

Abstract

Archives should promote services to users using various outreach service methods. Although the archives` tour program is one of the effective means of services, there has been few studies on the archival tour program. This study investigated archival tour programs and tried to suggest a desirable tour program, with the Korean Presidential Archives as a case. For this study, four U.S. Presidential Libraries` tour programs were investigated and analyzed. Also, tour programs offered in similar organizations in Korea, such as Kim Daejung Library, Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and National Library of Korea, were analyzed. Current tour programs offered by the Korean Presidential Archives were also analyzed and some limitations were identified. Based on the characteristics of the Korean Presidential Archives, which will be moved to independent building in Sejong City soon, desirable direction to organize tour programs for various user groups were suggested.