April 2004
The Archives Task Force Report was launched on 24 March. MLA is organising a mailing of copies and, together with the appendices, the Report is available on the MLA web site www.mla.gov.uk. The MLA archives team is also working on the implementation plan. NCA broadly welcomed the ATF recommendations, endorsed the need to raise the profile of archives and create greater diversity of use, and the importance of providing more online access. The Archives Gateway project has also been welcomed, while emphasising the clear links to the National Archives Network plan and the many existing (and proposed future) elements. NCA has concerns over the existing capacity of the domain to take forward these initiatives and would wish to pursue ways of funding infrastructure requirements, including capital investment and cataloguing, and developing strategic leadership for the domain, as well as the initiatives identified in the ATF recommendations.
NCA has agreed to take action by writing to the Minister, Tessa Jowell, and to Mark Wood, MLA Chairman; by sending an NCA Briefing to MPs and peers; by writing to regional agencies and to NCA member bodies drawing attention to the Report; and by having a further discussion at July Council about specific actions which NCA wishes to take to follow up ATF recommendations.
The UK Audio Visual Framework Strategy is available at www.bufvc.ac.uk. It is hoped that funding might become available for a project officer to support the development of audio visual archives in the UK.
A new Digital Preservation Working Group, hosted by TNA and chaired by NCA, has grown out of the TNA seminars on digital preservation in November and January. The Group plans to prepare guidance on digital storage in the UK, model contract(s) for digital archive service providers and a checklist for data storage software. These would be presented within the context of a report on the future of digital archive services which would set out funding priorities and identify existing expertise, resources and pilot projects.
NCA has noted that HLF's future after its warrant expires in 2009 was uncertain and member bodies were urged to raise awareness of the significance of the heritage fund to archives.
NCA has accepted the resignation of Vic Gray, honorary member of the Council and former Chairman, with great regret. We wish him the very best of luck in his future plans.
