PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

 

25 June 2003 

 

Mark Wood appointed new Chairman of Resource: The Council for Museums,
Archives and Libraries

 

 

Mark Wood is to be the new Chairman of Resource: The Council for Museums,
Archives and Libraries, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced today. The
appointment is for four years.

 

Mr Wood, who has been Acting Chairman of Resource for the last six months,
will take up the post immediately.

 

Resource provides strategic leadership for the museums, archives and
libraries communities and advises the government on policies and priorities
for these sectors.  

 

Resources current major objectives include Renaissance in the Regions, a
programme backed by £70m of government funding to revitalise Englands
regional museums, and Framework for the Future a strategy to reform
public library services.  A third initiative, led by an expert Task Force,
will map the UKs archive treasures and make them accessible to a wider
public.

 

Tessa Jowell said:  I am delighted that Mark Wood has agreed to take on
this key role in Resource. He has an impressive track record in delivery
and has already made an impact at Resource during his brief tenure as
Acting Chair. I know that he will provide the vision and leadership
necessary to drive forward these important agendas.

 

Mark Wood said: Resource has begun to have a real impact on museums,
archives and libraries, unlocking the enormous potential for collaboration
between them. My role will be to ensure Resource continues to provide
effective leadership and acts as a positive force for change.

 

 

Notes to Editors:

 

Resource was established in 2000 through the merger of the Museums and
Galleries Commission (MGC) and the Libraries and Information Commission (LIC).

 

One of its major successes has been the implementation of the Peoples
Network, a £170-million lottery-funded project to give free internet
access in all 4000 public libraries in the UK, linking libraries through a
nationwide broadband network. In the wake of that programme, completed on
time and within budget in December 2002, library visits have been rising
steadily this year.

 

Mr Wood said that Resource had a special responsibility to assist the
development of museums, archives and libraries in the English regions. As
the evolution of the three domains converges, Resource would also lead the
way in forging closer partnerships with the education sector and developing
cross-domain digitisation and electronic networking strategies.

 

Members of the Resource Board include Neil MacGregor, Director of the
British Museum; Mark Jones, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum;
Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library; Victor Gray,
Director of Rothschild Archives; and broadcaster Loyd Grossman, joint chair
of the Campaign for Museums. 

 

Biographical information

 

Mark Wood is currently Acting Chair of Resource.  He is also Chairman of
Independent Television News (ITN).  He was Editor-in-Chief of Reuters from
1989-2000 and headed Reuters media and corporate information businesses. 
After graduating in German and Russian, he was a correspondent for 10 years
for Reuters in Moscow, East Berlin, Vienna and Bonn.  Mark was a member of
the Library and Information Commission from 1995 and Chair from 1999 to 2000.

 

 

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6276\6272

Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153

Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200

Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk

 

 

 

Emma Wright

Media and Events Manager

Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries

T:  020 7273 1459

E: [log in to unmask]

W:http://www.resource.gov.uk

Join the Resourcenews email list at:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/resourcenews.html

 



Eluned Jones
Swyddog Datblygu Archifau i Gymru /
Archives Development Officer for Wales
Department of Information Studies
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Llanbadarn Fawr
ABERYSTWYTH
Ceredigion
SY23 3AS

Ffôn/Phone: 01970 622437