Dear Members,

Please find below draft response to the HLF strategic 
plan. For those who have not had a chance to see the 
document, I  have listed below each section a brief 
summary of the HLF document. The summary is designated by 
square brackets [ ] !! 

It is very draft, and I would appreciate your comments, 
especially from a Library and Special Collections point of 
view. 


Dear Mr Olding,

Towards a strategic plan for lottery funding for the heritage

On behalf of Scottish Universities Special Collections and Archives Group (SUSCAG) I am writing with comments about the above consultation document. SUSCAG would like to congratulate HLF on its successes so far, and to thank the Directors for the chance to comment on the proposed HLF strategic document. 

Firstly, we will comment on the areas you specifically mention:

Assessment of Need
[ as described in the document - Conservation; Archives ( storage, access preservation needs and discovery tools ); historic buildings; land, countryside and the natural heritage; industrial, transport and maritime; urban landscapes; access ( physical and intellectual ); Education; regional equality; social exclusion and deprivation; regeneration; sustainable development ]

SUSCAG agrees that this Strategic Plan is a positive step towards the development of an understanding of ‘need’ across the sectors. This development will also be helped by the initiative of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, the Public Record Office and the Scottish Record Office in commissioning a Lottery Mapping Exercise ( especially SRO ‘cos they included all kinds of archives...?).  We welcome the opportunity to be involved in other surveys to identify needs.

Objectives
[ These are given as:
· to support, sustain and enhance excellence in the UK’s heritage through preservation, conservation and enhancement of heritage assets
· by ensuring lasting improvements to the heritage
· assist in purchase of heritage assets
· aspiring to the highest standards in the quality of design
· by contributing to the objectives of sustainable development
· to support local heritage initiatives throughout the UK
· respond to local needs and developing assessment of needs
· partnerships with heritage and relevant bodies
· regional equality in the % of successful applications
· being aware of potential social and economic benefits of heritage projects
· to open up the heritage for access and education by enabling and actively promoting access to heritage for all
· supporting imaginative educational programmes
· promoting knowledge of and interest in heritage by all esp. children and young people
· encouraging creative participation in heritage schemes
· by raising awareness of heritage and its issues
· to carry out responsibilities with integrity, probity and accountability ]

SUSCAG agrees with the framework of objectives, especially with the HLF’s priorities for facilitating access for education. However, flexibility must be maintained. Although HEI’s are responsible for these aspects as part of their main function, HLF funds could allow greater exploitation of the diverse and exciting collections in our care. For example projects which work with schools, museums, galleries, local groups etc. could develop links between the HEI’s and local communities, and allow the greater exploitation of our collections to a wider audience outwith the academic remit of the HEI’s.

Strategic Priorities

[ HLF wishes to :
· focus on projects which respect and retain the best of our heritage at local, regional to national levels
· encourage creative flair and imagination
· take advantage of the wide range of perceptions, experiences and interpretation of heritage
· work cross sector and with others
· encourage local authorities and other strategic bodies with a wide ranging management portfolio to develop their own cultural and heritage strategies
· need to ensure that a proper balance is struck between realistic objectives, existing management responsibilities and the opportunities which HLF grants can unlock
· examine more full the leverage effect of grant giving, to maximise the applicants’ own resources and to build up partnerships
· focus on the real needs of the project to deliver its aims, and seek to provide funding which is required to make the project a success
· clearly define at outset what a project should hope to deliver, and evaluate the long term, benefits to the heritage
· secure multiple objectives e.g. reduce economic and social deprivation. ]

SUSCAG welcomes the decision that the HLF will not look back to previous aplplications to determine the pattern of support, as Archives and Libraries have been seriously neglected in the past. We are also pleased that although the actual amount of funding available through the HLF has reduced, the strategic document sets out figures for Archives and Libraries which increase the previous allocation of £10m to £18 m  1998 - 2001, £19m in 2000/1, and £20 m in 2001/2. We are aware of the need to justify this budget by ensuring a consistent flow of high quality applications, and look forward to this challenge.

We are also concerned that HEI Archives and Libraries fall between two sources of possible funding allocation: education and culture. Again, we ask that the HLF retains its flexibility when assessing applications, and asks that is ensures that HEI applications are not left to fall between the two possible allocations.

New Initiatives
[include Archives on - Line. HLF recognises that local Records Offices have sub-standard storage, poor facilities for public access, backlog of cataloguing: first priority is to ensure RO’s have an accurate catalogue of the material they hold, and to see these published and networked in a integrated national form. Provide links for learning and wider networks. ]

SUSCAG agrees with the value of the Archives On-Line project, however, would like to stress that this project should not be seen as the solution to all problems. The recent Follet funding has allowed some HEI’s to improve cataloguing, standards and access but further funding is required. Preservation and conservation requirements are still considerable. 

We ask that the Archives On - Line project is viewed with these on-going needs in mind, and that further projects are established to allow HEI’s to contiue the good work started through the Follet funding. For example, we would suggest that a partnership between HLF and HEI’s could meet the challenges listed as part of the recent TFPL project which looked at Records Management within HEI’s. 

Regional and Country Strategies
[ opening offices in Edinburgh; Country Committees will produce their own strategic plans for Scotland ]

 SUSCAG is very pleased to note that there will soon be an opening of a local office for Scotland, to be situated in Edinburgh, which will eventually be staffed by Country Committees. The production by these staff of a  separate strategic plan for Scotland is a very positive step.

Additionally, SUSCAG would like to submit the following comments:

We agree with HLF for the need to raise the general awareness of heritage issues. The document states that the HLF will “ work in partnership with heritage bodies and others, including Local Government and Higher Education Departments, in this task of facilitating or stimulating debate at where possible the cutting edge...” pg 20. SUSCAG welcomes the opportunity to contribute to any debate, and to collaborate with others to create a framework to make all institutions take steps to ensure the survival and accessibility of their heritage.

We agree with the HLF of the need to work in partnership with other grant funding bodies. An ideal opportunity would be to work alongside the new bids for funding from the second round of Follet funding. However, we understand that the timetabling does not mean that this is practicable. SUSCAG would welcome the opportunity to apply to such partnerships in the future.

The diversity and richness of the material held in archives and special collections throughout Scottish HEIs feature in the recent JISC publication ‘Accessing our Cultural Heritage’ plus our own publication ‘Ensuring Scotland’s Cultural Heritage’. We hope that in the future, as our collections become more widely known about and appreciated,  SUSCAG will be successful in bidding for lottery funding, in order to enable access to the wider education community.

Yours sincerely,

--
Pamela J. McIntyre      
Archivist                
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh EH14 4AS
tel: 0131 451 3638
fax: 0131 451 3164
http://www.hw.ac.uk/archive/
http://www.scot.ac.uk/archive/archive.html




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