In a Newsjunkie interview, Los Angeles Public Library’s Ani Boyadjian explores how libraries preserve community stories, broaden access to history, and remain trusted public spaces. She describes LAPL’s efforts to document diverse communities, capture institutional memory, and give archival donors a voice—all while navigating limited resources and urgent preservation needs.

Boyadjian highlights TheirStory as a major help in expanding this work. Its recording, AI transcription, and search capabilities make oral history collection easier, while remote interviewing enables participation beyond the library’s walls. Her message: preserving people’s stories builds both historical understanding and human connection.

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