Tim Grubb wrote:
"Dear all
Just a thought....but has anyone ever done a survey to prove that
members of
the public actually want to visit the SMR rather than recieve
material
through the post/email etc? I have numerous enquirers who initially
think
that they HAVE to come in but are actually quite happy when I say
that we
can send them information by post/email!
Some enquiries obviously demand more of my time but the majority can
be
dealt with in this way and the onus on physical public access is
something
that could seriously slow our HLF bid (as could our complicated
database and
our lack of room for extra terminals!) "
We haven't done a survey but in practice we deal with users both
directly and through post. The advantage for those who come in is that they
have access to our photographs, unpublished sources, and our library. I also
endorse Frances Griffith's earlier comments on the need for staff assistance
as well. Moreover, we can't send all the information through the post, even
if we wanted to, and it is also rewarding and helpful to develop direct
contact with our users. In any case, I thought that one of the points of the
HLF framework document was to encourage bids that would develop new
audiences for SMR information. For me, this must involve users getting
direct hands-on access either in the office or the Internet so they can
experience and explore the record for themselves rather than going through a
professionnal. Overall, the HLF bid should be stimulating us to find
imaginative ways to share our information and this needs to include easy to
use public access interfaces to get round the complicated database scenario.
Paul Gilman
Heritage Information and Records Manager
Essex County Council
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