Colleagues,
Following my enquiry a short while ago about record offices' provision for
prayer areas, here is a summary of the responses I received. Thank you to
all who responded.
Although the general consensus was that some form of prayer area for staff
and readers might be desirable, most respondents reported that their offices
simply do not have space for specific provision of a such a quiet /
dedicated area. Resource's database of learning and access case studies
records no such provision in archives as yet, and I can't recall seeing any
on my inspection rounds. A few respondents noted that their offices were
part of or adjacent to an established place of worship, which their readers
and staff use on occasion.
Most respondents, however, noted that they had not actually perceived any
demand for such an area from their readers. Several had carried out
extensive consultation exercises which had raised the question of making
such provision, but found their proposals either unpopular with one or more
faith group, or else very low on the list of user demands. As one put it,
"They are much more interested in having access to a coffee machine and
somewhere to natter about their family history".
Of those who do make provision for (or at least have a policy on) prayer in
record offices, some practical advice was offered:
# "Although [our] room is officially a non-specific multi-faith area, it is
in fact catered towards Muslims because they have very specific requirements
(e.g. separate praying areas for men and women, prayer mats, places outside
of the room to leave shoes etc.). Ideally they also require an area for
washing their feet before prayer, and as [we have] not been able to make
this
provision they use a toilet in a nearby building for this."
# "... many using the prayer room/quiet room also need nearby washing
facilities: these become quite busy and wet at certain times of day."
# "... public could use the tearoom for such activity, or the [adjacent]
council chapel if that did not conflict with their religious beliefs."
Generally, though, the consensus drawn together from several responses was
as follows: "All the public areas are meant to be suitably quiet for all our
readers, religious or not, groups or not, to contemplate what they are here
for. If they want to pray at the same time, I don't suppose that anyone will
mind, as long as they do it quietly and without making a spectacle." Even
if an office wished to go a step further and provide a dedicated area "it is
very difficult to create a room that can cater for all needs without a bias
towards one particular religious group." Consequently the pragmatic
approach prevails as far as I can tell: "We eventually came down in favour
of permitting prayer anywhere in the public area where it was not
obstructing free movement around the building or access to resources."
Steven
Steven Jones
Head of Archive Inspection Services
Records Management Department
Public Record Office
Kew
Surrey
TW 9 4DU
Tel. 020 8392 5318
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