ACCESS TO ARCHIVES (A2A) QUESTIONNAIRE
The information asked for in this questionnaire is urgently needed to
assist with preparing bids for the creation of a national archive
network for England. The strategy that has been adopted is to create a
central entity which will undertake retroconversion of catalogues on
behalf of regional consortia of archives successful in making bids to
the Heritage Lottery Fund. Some potential funders of the central
entity require figures showing that the cost of undertaking
retroconversion centrally is more economical than if everyone did it
for themselves. We therefore need to know some of these financial and
practical details, which we know can differ greatly between authorities
and employing bodies, to give us a picture sufficiently complete to be
enable us to compile the figures they require. The other questions
referring to catalogues are to help us inform the potential funders of
the central entity about the nature and size of the catalogues it will
be dealing with.
We realise that the main holiday month of August is an especially
difficult time to set aside staff time to answer this questionnaire,
and appreciate that you have many other demands on your time. We have
tried to make it as short and as focussed as possible, and hope that
your commitment to the idea of a national network will encourage you to
complete as much of it as you can as fully as you can and return it by
31 August.
If any of the spaces provided on the form are too small for the
information you wish to convey (for example, question 11), please add
the extra material by extending the size of the form electronically or,
if returned by post add an extra page. For convenience the form is
also being posted on the Archives NRA and A2A websites; the latter is
attached to the PRO website.
A2A Steering Group
Access to Archives (A2A) Questionnaire, August 1999
1. Name of repository.
2. Contact name
..
3. Phone number
.
4. Do you have a computer/s with minimum specification of 486
processor? Yes/No.
5. If you use cataloguing software, please name (do not include
word processing packages)
.
6. Do you have a connection to the Internet? Yes/No
6.1 If Yes, is this via:
a) Authority/employing body's network? Yes/No
b) your own leased line? Yes/No
c) modem? Yes/No
6.2 If No, could you purchase/lease an Internet connection from
your authority/employing body? Yes/No
6.3 If you could purchase or lease an Internet connection from
your authority/employing body, how much would this cost to:
a) install?
.
b) maintain per annum?
c) could you afford this?
..
7. Do you offer public access to the Internet in your office?
Yes/No
7.1 If No, is this planned? Yes/No and when?
..
7.2 Can you foresee any problems in providing the Internet to
the public? Yes/No If Yes please specify.
.
..
8. How many collections (fonds) do you have?
.
9. How many of these collections are catalogued?
.
10. Approximately how many pages of catalogues do you
have?
11. Which collections or categories of your archives would you consider
a priority for inclusion in a national network?
.
.
12. How many catalogue pages do these collections/categories
comprise?
13. How many collections already have automated cataloguing (not
word processing)?
.
14. Approximately how many pages of your manual catalogues would
you consider suitable for retroconversion, allowing for some subsequent
editing?
15. Do you have any plans for retroconverting your catalogues?
Yes/No
If Yes, please give details, especially if you are putting in any bids
for funding.
16. Can you foresee any problems in participating in A2A? Yes/No.
If Yes, please specify.
.
THANK YOU for taking the time to fill in this questionnaire. This will
help us put together bids for the national network. Please complete by
31st August 1999.
If you wish to return this questionnaire electronically, please send to
[log in to unmask]
If you wish to return a paper copy, please send to Heather Forbes at
Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, Hants SO23 8TH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dick Sargent
Director of the National Register of Archives
Historical Manuscripts Commission
Quality House, Quality Court
Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1HP
tel 0171 242 1198
fax 0171 831 3550
email [log in to unmask]
http://www.hmc.gov.uk
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
