Proposed museums, libraries and archives project on the movement of people

17 December 1999

This is a first announcement about a proposed project to explore the movement of people into the British Isles. If you are interested in this subject, we invite you to participate in the development of the concept.

The overall aim of the project is to work with users to develop lifelong learning frameworks, learning resources and information resources about relevant collections held by museums, libraries and archives and to make these resources freely accessible on the on-line networks. This aim will be pursued through three pilot projects, covering Black and Asian migration (1940 to the present), eastern European migration (1870 to 1901) and the movement of people into England from Scotland, Wales and Ireland (1840-1914).

A small group of institutions are the main partners in the project, including representatives from the three sectors, working with the National Museum Directors
, Conference. The partners have formed a Steering Group, chaired by Sarah Tyacke, Keeper of the Public Record Office. At this stage, they are likely to include the Public Record Office, London Metropolitan Archives, West Yorkshire Archives Service, the Museum of London, the Victoria & Albert Museum, National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside and the People
,s Heritage (an initiative of the Society of Chief Librarians and the British Library).

The partners will work closely with organisations which represent the primary users of the learning and information resources and with other projects with related interests, to ensure the greatest possible benefit from the work. Other institutions will be invited to become participants in the project, working alongside the main partners to develop specific aspects of the initiative, such as a regional emphasis. In addition, a wide range of organisations will be invited to be content providers or access points, to enrich the extent of the resource and the diversity of its use.

An application will be made to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) digitise scheme to support the first phase of work. The project is closely relevant to the cultural enrichment area within the NOF scheme and will also support the reskilling the nation area.

If you would like further information or are aware of organisations, collections, projects or user groups that are relevant to this project, we would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible. The overall contact is: Sophie Sutherland, National Museum Directors
, Conference, e-mail [log in to unmask]

The specific contact for the archive sector is: David Crook, Public Record Office, e-mail [log in to unmask]
The specific contact for the museum sector is: Andrew Roberts, Museum of London, e-mail [log in to unmask]
The specific contact for the library sector is: Martin Molloy, Director of Libraries and Heritage, Derbyshire County Council, e-mail [log in to unmask]
____________________________________________________
Andrew Roberts
Documentation Officer
Museum of London London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Tel. +44 (0)171 814 5587
Fax. +44 (0)171 600 1058
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%