I thought list readers and SRG (Specialist Repositories Group) members would
like to know that the issue of the structure of the SRG is on the agenda for
the SRG AGM.   We felt it was relevant to discuss this in light of the
Society's restructuring  as a whole, and the question of the wide ranging
membership of SRG which inevitably means members have some disparate
interests and issues.   I think one of the issues which is likely to be
debated is the question of whether the Society needs more specialist
interest groups to cater properly for its members or whether SRG itself
could usefully have sub-groups to represent different members' interests.
SRG members cover far more than simply university or business archivists,
and include film, museum/gallery, schools, private families, historic
houses, etc.   I think the debate is likely to centre on whether it is
valuable for these groups to be represented together, to give them a
sufficiently strong voice to be heard against the perceived chorus of local
authority archivists, or whether business archivists (or any of the other
groups) really do form such a distinct group that they should separate out.
If the idea of separation is favoured, this will surely be relevant to
groups other than just business archivists and may lead to a radical
re-structuring of the Society as a whole, as Richard has already suggested.
 
As I'm writing this in my role as SRG secretary (although these are my views
and have not been endorsed by the committee), I'm sitting firmly on the
fence for the purposes of this email but I would like to ask people to give
their opinions.    So far, the list discussion has been fairly unanimous in
it's approval for the idea of a separate group, and all the comment has been
from business archivists.   It would be interesting to hear what
non-business SRG/Society members think: are there local authority archivists
out there feeling horribly under-represented and wanting a specialist
interest group of their own?   I feel very conscious that the issues with
which I deal professionally are very different from the perceived "typical"
SRG member (single person, poorly resourced, etc), and it would be valuable
to find out whether SRG members feel they are properly represented on the
committee and how well they feel SRG serves them.  The AGM is on 6 April, at
Friends' House in London at 6pm: anyone who can't make that but would like
to contribute to the debate is welcome to contact me with their views.
Also, David Prior and Susan Snell are standing down from the committee, so
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work as
co-chairs over the last three years (their energy is one reason why SRG has
grown so much and why we are having this debate) and to invite people to
stand for the committee.  If you feel SRG doesn't represent your interests,
this is your chance to amend that! 

Incidentally, the AGM notices are going out now but with the wrong contact
phone number for Susan Snell on them (due to a change of jobs for Susan and
incompetence on my part): her correct contact number is 0171 942 5507.

Lucy Jones

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