The first annual report from the Taking Part survey has been published today.
The annual report is based on 28,117 face to face interviews with adults aged 16 or over living in private households in England and covers the engagement of adults in the cultural sector.
It is the first time a single survey has covered archives, libraries and museums and is a significant source of information to describe who uses and does not use our sector.
The results provide a national analysis of audiences, which we can use with other sources – such as the Public Services Quality Group user survey – to obtain a detailed picture of archive use and to monitor trends.
Taking Part shows that 6% of adults had visited an archive, and profiles their age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and location.
It also explores why they visited the archives, and why the other respondents did not attend - 69% said they had “no need to go” or were not interested.
The full survey report is available on the MLA website:
http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets/T/Taking_Part_11721.pdf
Isobel Siddons
Archives Manager
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
Victoria House, Southampton Row,
London WC1B 4EA
Tel: (020) 7273 1421
Email: [log in to unmask]