Located at the central headquarters of the La Laguna City Council, in what was formerly the Colegio de las Dominicas, this archive houses collections dating back to the Conquest of Tenerife. However, its facilities, described as small and humid, along with insufficient staffing, have compromised its present and future, a situation that has been the subject of plenary debate in previous years, including in 2024.
The arrival of Daniel Melián as the new archivist last September marks a turning point. Melián, who found an archive with "certain shortcomings in its management," has initiated a series of projects to reverse the situation. Among the first steps is the continuation of the digitization of the Old Council of Tenerife Collection, a crucial measure to protect documents from the building's deficient environmental conditions.
“"The area has significant humidity, and the facilities do not meet conservation standards. It's a way to prevent documents from deteriorating more quickly."
In addition to digitization, the team has been reinforced with two contracted individuals and a third dedicated to restoration. An internal reorganization of the deposits has also been implemented, with new topographical signatures that facilitate the location of files. Nevertheless, the long-term plan includes comprehensive climate control for the space and improved security, with the replacement of obsolete document conservation modules.
Digital transition is another fundamental pillar. The goal is to replace the current hybrid system, which combines an inefficient digital manager with handwritten cards, with a modern application that streamlines archival search and classification. This will pave the way for a "Single Electronic Archive of the City Council" that centralizes all documentation from the La Laguna consistory. Although steps have already been taken, such as the conversion of 250 boxes from the Old Council of Tenerife, Melián acknowledges that "a lot" of work remains, including the Ossuna Collection and the photographic archive.
Despite the progress, the debate over facilities remains a priority. Daniel Melián believes that constructing a new building would be the most appropriate solution, although he also considers the rehabilitation of another property. Meanwhile, he insists on the need for "urgent provisional actions" to ensure the conservation and security of documents. The space problem is exacerbated by document dispersion, as some 25,000 filing cabinets are located in external facilities in Güímar, hindering daily work, especially in areas like Urban Planning.
“"There is incredible documentation, due to its age and its content on the history of Tenerife. You breathe the history of our ancestors."
The archive's value is undeniable, being the most important in the Canary Islands from the perspective of civil archiving and the only one offering continuous chronological information on the island's history of Tenerife until the 19th century. Daniel Melián, born in Betancuria in 1988, arrived in La Laguna from Fuerteventura in September, bringing his experience in heritage and document management. His career includes work at the Puerto del Rosario City Council and the Cabildo majorero library, and he now takes on the challenge of modernizing this "gem of the past" so it can look to the future.
