| Summary: | Oral history is an important method used to record events that a person has gone through. Historical records of an event can be completed through oral history since part of the information still resides in a person’s memory.Interview is one method
that is used in oral history to collect information from an individual. The oral
history interview scope covers all levels within a society in order to gain a new
perspective on historical events.In 1982, Universiti Sains Malaysia formed the
Committee on Oral History in order to gather information about the Japanese
occupation in the northern areas of peninsular Malaysia.The committee members
had historians as well a librarian for the University’s library. The librarian is
responsible for the recordings and the transcriptions.The historical compilations
that are kept in the Library can generate new knowledge. Therefore there should be
a structured promotion plan. Technological developments can aid in the
dissemination of the collection to a wider audience.This paper will explain the
importance of oral history, background of the collection held in the USM Library
and efforts undertaken to promote this information source as an important material
for research on history in the near future.
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