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MLANews e-bulletin
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Transforming our archives: MLA’s agenda for archive development
Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future: the report of the Archives Task Force was launched on 24th March 2004 following an 18-month investigation, analysis and review of the state of the UK’s archives to ensure they are better used, better cared for, and better understood.
The Archives Task Force has made very clear recommendations to Government for widening access to new audiences and modernising the archives domain and to develop the skill sets and expertise of professional archivists in all areas. The Archives Task Force believes this report could help modernise and transform archives and revolutionise the way they are accessed and used. Recommendations and actions have been identified under three key themes of Access for All, Developing Archives and Audiences and Modernisation and Workforce Development.
MLA has submitted the report to the Secretary of State for Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on behalf of the Archives Task Force, and we are awaiting a response from Government.
In discussion with key archive stakeholders, MLA is co-ordinating archive development planning. An Archive Development Team, led by Justin Cavernelis-Frost and under the directorship of Gina Lane, has been brought together to provide strategic leadership and advocacy for archives within MLA and to take forward MLA’s action plan in relation to ‘Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future’. MLA’s future archive development work will fit within the wider 5-year vision 'Investing in Knowledge' in which Action for Archives is a priority area. MLA is already working with the Regional Agencies in England to map current and on-going development activity that is contributing to the delivery of the ATF vision and recommendations. As a partner in the Linking Arms consortium MLA is taking forward the development of the foundation core of the Archives Gateway. As our plans develop, more information will be publicly available.
A new ‘Action for Archives’ section is also now available on the MLA website. This includes the full report, the supporting papers (annexes) to the Task Force report and a series of FAQs on the ATF pages at http://www.mla.gov.uk/action/archives/atf.asp. Individual copies of the report can be requested from [log in to unmask]
Justin Cavernelis-Frost
Head of Archive Development
MLA - The Museums, Libraries & Archives Council,
16, Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AA
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
is the national development agency working for,
and on behalf of museums, libraries and archives
in England, advising the government on policy
and priorities for the sector.
Direct Line: 020 7273 1477 Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.mla.gov.uk