Recordkeeping in freestanding amateur organisations: a case study of a choir

Abstract

ABSTRACT Freestanding amateur organizations are rarely studied in recordkeeping literature. Guidance aimed at those setting up and running them often ignores recordkeeping and archiving, which means that these organizations risk not keeping essential information and losing their records. This article explores this issue by creating a model of how recordkeeping works in a choir through a case study. The main features of recordkeeping identified within the case study organization were: digital working; use of email; informality; and members’ individual preferences for keeping records. Some of these features are present in other working environments, and may become more common in the future where businesses turn away from their office-centred practice. One of the main differences between a business and a freestanding amateur organization is that the latter relies heavily, or entirely, on volunteers, and therefore their opinions on recordkeeping and archiving matters are especially important, as is the culture of the organization.