I have had a cursory look at the new DCMS website and I must admit some
considerable disappointment as may other subscribers to this listserv at the
very low, almost non-existent profile of archives on the pages. You will find
archives under "heritage,libraries and museums" on the DCMS homepage but then
only in the context of the new Museums Libraries and Archives Council.
On the links page, though the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts'
address is given under the libraries section, there is no hotlink to the HMC's
website. There are however hotlinks to other DCMS funded organisations such as
the Archaeological Diving Unit at St Andrews University!!.
It's all well and good having a new buddy buddy relationship between archives
and the DCMS through MLAC but it would help matters considerably if DCMS didn't
keep forgetting that we exist.
If having looked at the DCMS pages, you feel the same as I do, please e-mail
their address for feedback. If enough people do so, perhaps they may give
archives a better profile on their site.
Richard Childs,
County Archivist,
West Sussex Record Office.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|