Collaborative Strategies for Enhancing Public Awareness of Tanzania’s Cultural Heritage: Insights from National Museum of Tanzania Professionals

Cultural heritage is based on the aspects of our past that we cherish, want to keep and pass on to future generations and the outside world. Most cultural heritage resources preserved in memory institutions, including libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs), give us unique insights into the past, help us understand our present and determine our future. However, these priceless materials are not fully utilized by the public due to inadequate promotion strategies. Worse still, LAMs in Tanzania seem to be working in silos when promoting access to available cultural heritage resources in their holdings. This study attempted to investigate the views of museum professionals from the National Museum of Tanzania concerning collaboration strategies in promoting access to the country’s cultural heritage resources. Twenty-two museum professionals participated in the study by completing an online survey. A documentary review of legislations governing LAMs was conducted to determine whether collaboration is encouraged and supported legally. The findings of the study indicated that the existing legislations lack provisions for collaborations in promoting and raising public awareness of heritage resources preserved in LAMs. The study provides recommendations that could strengthen ties between libraries, archives and museums so as to promote further access to the Tanzanian cultural heritage resources maintained in LAMs.