Abstract:
Institutional memory's goal is to guarantee the preservation and transmission of history, identity, and knowledge that an institution has accumulated over time through what is produced by individuals who institute it and its relations with society. In the context of universities, it encompasses a diverse set of materials, representative of this production and its presence in time and space that highlights the socio-cultural and scientific interactions that have shaped the institution’s path over time. In this sense, it is understood that institutional memory covers not only official and academic documentation but also thoughts and ideas portrayed in the personal collections of personalities who helped build and are kept in academic libraries. This research arises from the perception that some personal collections, donated to the Federal University of Ceará, lack studies and technical treatment, both in relation to their representativeness and preservation, as well as management and access. The objective of this study is, therefore, to promote a discussion about the possible intersections between institutional memory, information representation, and knowledge management. Two collections stand out briefly and their connections in the formation of this memory through the materials that constitute them. Ultimately, it is recognized that they are integral components of the academic documentary heritage and play an important role in the contextualization of the social, cultural, and scientific history of the university.
Keywords:
institutional memory; personal collections; information representation; knowledge management