Shared Memory, Uneven Archives: Rethinking Municipal Recordkeeping in Galicia

Abstract Municipal archives play a vital role in maintaining institutional transparency, culture, and democratic memory. However, archival provision remains uneven across municipalities in Galicia. This unevenness persists despite a shared legal and institutional framework that formally recognizes municipal archives as a public function. Legal frameworks exist to support local recordkeeping practices, but their implementation is often incomplete. This is particularly evident in small towns with limited resources. This study explores the structural imbalances in municipal archival practices through a qualitative, document-based approach grounded in fieldwork, national and regional archival legislation, and institutional documentation. It examines how existing archival regulations unfold in day-to-day municipal practice. It identifies a series of recurring obstacles including the shortage of trained personnel, fragile infrastructure, and inconsistent public access. In response, the paper proposes a regional model for archival organization, grounded in inter-municipal cooperation, shared resources, and coordinated professional support. The proposed model aligns with Galicia’s existing territorial organization and reflects broader trends in the integration of public services. The model seeks to promote more equitable access to documentary heritage and to preserve the role of local archives in collective memory and democratic transparency. The article links conceptual discussion and empirical diagnosis to propose a regional model for archival coordination, offering a pathway toward a more inclusive and sustainable archival landscape in Galicia.