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** Protective Marking : NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED ** Archive Pace Setter Scheme Archives across the UK are to be given the opportunity to take part in an exciting new scheme, aimed at highlighting innovation in the sector, being launched this autumn. The Archive Pace Setter scheme is led by the National Council on Archives in partnership with a range of strategic bodies working with the archive sector across the UK including CyMAL, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, The National Archives, the Scottish Council on Archives, and the Society of Archivists. Within the scheme, which will run from 1 October 2009 to April 2013, we are looking for a range of archive services, both big and small, and from all parts of the archive sector, to showcase how they are developing new working practice within their organisations through project-working. These projects will have use of the prestigious Archive Pace Setter brand. It is expected that Archive Pace Setter projects will have a range of aims and proposed outcomes reflecting the multiplicity of opportunities within archives to improve and develop service delivery, both in terms of access and collections management and care. What will define these projects as Archive Pace Setters will be: * They will all demonstrate innovative practice within their own organisation * They will all demonstrate how project work can support the delivery of strategic developments within their organisation * They will all have clear project plans in place in advance of project delivery * They will all have clear evaluation plans that include opportunities for staff within the organisation to reflect on their working practice, as well as monitor the success of the project in meeting its aims At a national level the projects involved in the scheme will be used to promote good practice in archives as part of wider workforce development and advocacy strategies. Archive Pace Setters will be a key mechanism for demonstrating the sector's own capacity to engage directly with the Government Policy on Archives and to illustrate the sector's tenacity and commitment to continue improving services through financially difficult times. Benefits for participants Advocacy * Organisations will be able to use the brand to demonstrate sectoral support for their project when approaching external funders * Organisations will be able to use the brand to promote their service and undertake advocacy work at local, regional, national and international level Workforce Development * Organisations will benefit from being part of a national programme with networking and learning opportunities * Organisations will be able to identify individuals to become part of a wider programme of developing mentors within the archive sector Want to find out more? Information sessions There will be a series of free half-day information sessions about the Archive Pace Setter scheme held across the UK in August and September. All sessions will take place between 2.00 and 4.30pm at the following venues: 24 Aug 2009 Edinburgh National Archives of Scotland 26 Aug 2009 Liverpool University of Liverpool 27 Aug 2009 Chelmsford Essex Record Office 8 Sep 2009 Birmingham Birmingham City Archives 11 Sep 2009 Exeter University of Exeter 23 Sep 2009 London The National Archives 24 Sep 2009 York Borthwick Institute To book a place at one of the sessions, go to www.nca.org.uk/archivepacesetter for further information There will also be a session on the scheme at the Society of Archivists Conference in Bristol on 2 September 2009 and a date for a session in Wales will be announced shortly. Online Information about the scheme will be uploaded through the summer to the dedicated pages relating to the scheme on the National Council on Archives website www.nca.org.uk/archivepacesetter. An Archive Pace Setter blog is also under development. What the partners organisations say about Archive Pace Setters Geoff Pick, Chair, National Council on Archives "The National Council on Archives is delighted to be working with strategic partners across the UK to develop and deliver the Archive Pace Setter scheme. Over the last twenty years the NCA has developed a track record of supporting innovation within the archive sector, through ground-breaking reports, funding advice and advocacy work. We see the Archive Pace Setter scheme as a timely initiative, bringing together many strands of work within the sector to continue the drive toward improvements to archive services. We hope that archives of all shapes and sizes will be able to directly benefit from becoming Archive Pace Setters, and that, in the longer term, the sector as a whole will benefit from shared learning derived from these projects." Roy Clare CBE, Chief Executive, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council "MLA welcomes this initiative to encourage Archives around the country to become Pace Setters. Our local archives are an invaluable resource containing the histories and stories of local communities across the country. This scheme will give them confidence to try new ways of working and to develop best practice in managing the resources which they hold on behalf of all of us. It will help them strengthen their bonds with local communities, and foster local pride and identity. The scheme will support MLA in delivering its priorities and those Archives Services which are identified as Pace Setters will rightly receive the national recognition which they deserve." Natalie Ceeney, Chief Executive, The National Archives "Archive services are facing a range of challenges as the changing information world alters user expectations and presents new and complex needs in managing digital records. In order to meet these, it is vital for the archive sector to work together and this scheme demonstrates the commitment of the UK archive sector in driving forward service improvements, even in times of financial constraint. The National Archives fully supports the Archive Pace Setter scheme in its overarching aim to encourage innovation across the archive sector. The Archive Pace Setter scheme will enable us to showcase, at a national level, new working practices within archive services. It will also support capacity building within the sector as a whole by encouraging, through sharing good practice and reflected learning, opportunities for organisations and individuals to develop new skills." Peter Emmerson, Chair, Society of Archivists "This is an excellent initiative which will help archivists, records managers and conservators demonstrate their skills to their employers, archive users and colleagues. It is particularly important, as many services are facing budget cuts, that the innovative and ground-breaking work being done by recordkeeping professionals should be recognised and shared. The Society of Archivists supports Archive Pace Setters as a means of marking the unique contribution of its members to the cultural, business and democratic life of the UK." Gordon Reid, Director, Scottish Council on Archives "The Archives Pace Setter scheme provides an excellent opportunity for archive services throughout the country to showcase and celebrate the many innovative and exciting projects they are delivering and, as such, the Scottish Council on Archives fully supports it." Louise Ray Archive Pace Setter Scheme Manager National Council on Archives c/o The National Archives Ruskin Avenue Kew, Richmond Surrey TW9 4DU Direct Line: 020 8392 5347 Email: [log in to unmask] www.nca.org.uk/lottery My usual working days are Tuesday to Friday. This post is jointly supported by The National Archives, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and The National Council on Archives Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Archives Disclaimer This email message (and attachments) may contain information that is confidential to The National Archives. If you are not the intended recipient you cannot use, distribute or copy the message or attachments. In such a case, please notify the sender by return email immediately and erase all copies of the message and attachments. 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