Day Books is an independent publishing company, established in 1998 to publish a series of ‘great diaries from around the world’. Since then we’ve branched out to include all kinds of personal writing: biography, autobiography, and collections of letters.

We also have two other imprints: the Charlbury Press, publishing local-interest material relating to Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, and Leo Children’s Books.

I'm glad that people who are wondering what to do with unwanted diaries are coming across this website and thinking that we may be able to give advice. A couple of days ago I received an email from someone whose late mother kept a diary from 1918 till 1993, and who says: 'It seems a real shame that this history of a large part of the last century should not be kept in some way, for future generations ... Can you help, please?'

Her mother had been a student at the Royal College of Music, so I suggested the RCM first - 'But a county archive would be interested too.' I also suggested the Mass Observation Archive, which is still accepting diaries, though they are currently reviewing their policy.

'Then,' I added, 'there's the diary archive that Dr Irving Finkel of the British Museum is privately assembling for diaries that have no other obvious home. If you draw blanks with the other archives, Dr Finkel WILL want them. I will be happy to put you in touch with him.'