***APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTING***



Contact:  Emma Wright
020 7233 4200


Registration Review Completed

London, 4 August 2000 -- Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and
Libraries has published its review of the Museum Registration Scheme.

Neville Mackay, Resource Chief Executive, commented:  "We are very grateful
to Rosemary Ewles and Adrian Babbidge for completing such a thorough and
prompt review of the Registration Scheme.  It was a big undertaking.  We
endorse the principles set out in the document, and will be working closely
with the Area Museum Councils (AMCs) and our Registration Committee to
implement the proposals.

	"Resource remains committed to supporting the Registration Scheme as
an important element of its quality standards agenda.  This report provides
a clearer picture of how it might be administered more effectively.  In the
longer term we need to consider the future direction of the Scheme beyond
its current phase, and work on this will begin shortly."

The recommendations for the Scheme are:

*	There should be fixed timetables for dealing with applications.
AMCs will be expected to advise both applicants and Resource of its
timetable on receipt of an application.  No application should take longer
than four weeks to process from its arrival at Resource.

*	Resource should have sole responsibility for checking that minimum
standards are met.  AMCs should be responsible for the advice and
development aspects of Registration.  

*	AMCs should be responsible for recommending whether an applicant
meets the Registration standards and for identifying areas for improvement.

*	AMCs should give advice before the application stage, not
afterwards.
-more-
2/ Registration Review Completed


*	AMCs should reject incomplete applications.

*	AMCs should not submit incomplete applications to Resource. 

*	Resource case assessors should liaise with the AMCs not with
individual applicants.

*	Resource should evaluate a sample of 10 per cent of applications
from each AMC and give prompt feedback to AMCs on their management process.


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The complete report 'Process Review of the Museum Registration Scheme Phase
2' is available from Sarah Woodward on 020 7233 4200, email
[log in to unmask] or on the Resource website at
www.resource.gov.uk.

In June 2000 Rosemary Ewles, Secretary of the Committee of Area Museum
Councils and Adrian Babbidge, Director of East Midlands Museums Service,
conducted an efficiency review of the Registration Scheme Phase 2 on behalf
of Resource.  The aim of the review was to consider whether it was feasible
to complete Phase 2 of the Registration Scheme by the end of 2001 without
compromising the quality or integrity of the Scheme and to review the
efficiency of the Registration systems and processes currently operated by
Resource. 

The Registration Scheme was launched in 1988 by the Museums & Galleries
Commission and a second phase, with enhanced and updated guidelines, was
introduced during 1995.  More than 1800 museums are now Registered.

Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries is a new strategic
agency which will work with museums, libraries and archives across the UK.
It replaced the Museums & Galleries Commission and the Library & Information
Commission in April 2000. 

11/00

Sarah Woodward
Communications Assistant
Resource: The Council for Museums Archives and Libraries
[log in to unmask]
www.resource.gov.uk



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