Current News
NCA Launches Parliamentary Briefing Notes
On Wednesday 5 November, at a Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Archives, the National Council on Archives launched the new series of Parliamentary Briefings. Please see below the text of the introductory letter which went out with the new Briefings. The Briefings can be found on the NCA's website: http://www.ncaonline.org.uk/advocacy/parliamentary_briefings/
One hundred not out – Parliamentarians mark a century of the state pension
If current generations think concerns about pension provision is a modern headache they need to look back in history, and perhaps find some guidance in the process. This was the clear message from the autumn meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APG) on Archives. On the auspicious date of 5 November, the APG met at the Palace of Westminster to mark the centenary of the 1908 Pensions Act and the start of the 2008 Archives Awareness Campaign run, by the National Council on Archives (NCA). For full report read here.
PUBLIC SERVICES QUALITY GROUP thirteenth annual quality forum for archives and local studiesat The National Archives, Kew. Wednesday 5th November 2008
Click here for details of the programme and how to book
Proof Positive: how archives can make better use of data and research evidence – the 2008 NCA Conference
For more information and to access presentations from the conference go to the Conference 2008 page.
The Council meets in York
The attractive new Borthwick Institute in York provided the location for the April 2008 meeting of the National Council on Archives. The Borthwick’s Keeper, Chris Webb, presented a fascinating presentation, entitled The Shock of the New, on the impact on staff and users of the move to new premises before the NCA got down to its usual wide range of business.
Advocacy for the archives sector takes centre stage in the 2008/9 Business Plan
The NCA’s 2008/9 Business Plan was presented, having been agreed by the NCA funders. Advocacy is the dominant theme, reflecting the importance of NCA’s role in this area and the investment provided by the funders in areas such as the Head of Public Affairs and the NCA Conference. The Business Plan also clearly aligns the roles of the Public Sector Quality Group (PSQG) and the Community Archives Development Group (CADG) with the NCA to ensure a co-ordinated work programme across the NCA family. In 2009 NCA will be developing a new three year strategic plan which will enable key functions such as advocacy to be planned with a long-term perspective.
The Treasurer reported that NCA finances are on target but that funding from MLA for 2009/10 has yet to be clarified due to MLA’s restructuring. However, it will be settled in time for the new strategic plan in 2009.
Parliamentarians launch All Party Group on Archives
1April 2008 saw the inaugural meeting of the APG. The structure has been arranged with Tim Boswell MP as Chairman, Gerald Howarth MP Vice Chair, Lord RedesdaleVice Chair, Dr Howell Francis MP Vice Chair, Lord Bew Secretary. The breadth of discussion and the shared knowledge was impressive.
An APG event will be held 8th July which will take the form of a panel and opportunities for questions. Lisa Jardine and Natalie Ceeney will be on the panel and there will be representation from MLA. It is hoped to attract a celebrity archives user to attend. Furthermore, a ministerial representative from DCMS will be invited. There may even be an opportunity for discussion of a draft of the new Government policy document Archivesin the 21st Century if it is available by this date.
A celebration of community archives at the Welsh Assembly
The Welsh Assembly will learn of the imaginative work being undertaken by the Community Archives Wales project. NCA’s Head of Public Affairs has been liaising with the organisers and the NCA will be represented as part of the Council’s advocacy work.
Head of Public Affairs drives new relationships
Rene Kinzett, Head of Public Affairs, outlined the wide-ranging work he is undertaking to develop strategic relationships for the sector, particularly with regard to the Local Government Association to push for service improvements in local authority archives. Rene hopes to have a representative of the Local Government Association at the NCA conference. He is also working with IDeA (Improvement Development Agency). Rene has instituted fortnightly meetings with John Chambers of the Society of Archivists to develop a co-ordinated approach between the Council and the Society.
Conference 2008 is well under way
The Proof Positive Conference will take place at place 17th July, Birmingham Midland Institute. Thanks to MLA’s sponsorship attendance will be free. Booking will open in early May. The morning will consist of speakers, while the afternoon will be devoted to workshops based on the themes of Children and Young People; Safer Stronger Communities, Economic Development and the Environment; Healthy Communities and Older People.
Call goes out for a restructuring analysis of the sector bodies
Critics of the sector have caricatured it as being both small and fragmented, and not speaking with a single voice; this is damaging, particularly set against a backdrop of the restructuring of MLA, and uncertainties over future funding from sources such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and concerns over national economic prospects. Therefore, a call for tenders has been published to review the main bodies to establish their remit, plans, structure, membership etc. The results of this review could bring a rationalisation of organisations or establish clear spheres of activity and responsibility. The tender brief has been prepared NCA, the Society of Archivists and the Association of Chief Archivists in Local Government. (ACALG).
The NCA needs your voice
The NCA still needs applicants for is spokespeople database. If you would like to be considered download the form at http://www.ncaonline.org.uk/news/current
Archives Awareness Campaign still on course
NCA was saddened to say goodbye to Elise Oliver, Archive Awareness Officer, whose enthusiasm will be missed. Support from The National Archives’ Press Office will still be delivered for the one-off event in November 2008 and the AAC will be aligned more closely with other NCA advocacy work as it is developed strategically. The Council recognised AAC as important for engaging with local services.
Archive Lottery Officer reports on another successful year of grants awards
Louise Ray, Archive Lottery Adviser highlighted that, following on from last year’s ‘bumper’ year, 2007/08 has been another successful year in terms of grant awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) with around £3.6m in grants received with the help of the Archive Lottery Advisory Service. However, there is a need to be realistic about the amount of money available for major projects in future years (with only £20 million available per year for grant requests over £5m).
April saw the HLF moving into a new strategic planning period, and Louise noted that the revamped website, guidance, and new application processes appear much more user friendly. Louise has been in discussion with HLF regional and country teams to improve communication and develop future training. She also reported the appointment of Fiona Talbott as the new Head of Museums Libraries and Archives in the HLF policy team.
The MAPLE (Major Archive Projects Learning Exchange) group continues to grow, with a number of organisations that have already completed capital projects being invited to share their experience with the group.
PSQG soon to deliver 2007 Visitor Survey results and amended Access Standard
A public report on the 2007 Visitor Survey by the Public Services Quality Group will be published in May, as should the revised Standard for Access for Archives.
NCA to hold talks as DCMS restructures
Both DCMS and MLA are restructuring whilst Margaret Hodge, Culture Minister, is reviewing regional bodies in the cultural sector. NCA is keen to be identified as a sector specialist, a role noted in MLA plans, and is also arranging a meeting with DCMS representatives to discuss the restructuring and archival issues. NCA will also draft a note on the issues around the reorganisation of MLA in the regions.
Other news
· A draft of the new Government Policy on Archives, Archivesin the 21st Century, should be available in June or July.
· Katey Logan has been appointed at TNA to finish the task of researching and producing the National Strategy on Business Records
· At the Society of Archivists David Mander is running a working group to respond to the changes at MLA.
· CURL had been re-branded and was now known as Research Libraries UK
Parliamentarians establish All Party Group on Archives
On Tuesday 1 April a select gathering of MPs and Peers approved the creation of an All Party Group (APG) on Archives. In an energetic meeting the Parliamentarians from all parties expressed their concerns for the importance of archives and how this importance is not mirrored in the position of archives on the political agenda, despite the popularity of family and local history and people’s burgeoning desire for a sense of place and identity. Many spoke from personal experience and several speakers proudly made reference to their local authority services. Tim Boswell MP (Con, Daventry) chaired the meeting with great enthusiasm. Also attending were former Arts Ministers Mark Fisher MP (Lab, Stoke-on-Trent Central) and Lord Howarth, the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan MP (Con, Chesham & Amersham), Gordon Marsden MP (Lab, Blackpool South) a former editor of History Today, Dr Hywel Francis MP (Lab, Aberavon) the Chairman of the Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee, along with Lord Redesdale, Sir Patrick Cormack MP (Con, South Staffordshire), Ed Vaizey MP (Con, Wantage), Lord Luke, Lord Inglewood and Robert Key MP (Con, Salisbury). The meeting also appointed the APG’s first officers with Tim Boswell MP confirmed as Chair, Lord Bew as Secretary, and Lord Howarth, Lord Redesdale and Dr Hywel Francis MP as Vice-Chairs.
The meeting also approved the role of the National Council on Archives to provide the secretariat function for the APG as well as agreeing to allow associate members from organisations external to Parliament, such as NCA and the Society of Archivists. It was concluded that these associate members could provide the APG with vital knowledge and expertise. This was much in evidence by the summing up of the sector by Jonathan Pepler, Chair of NCA, which the APG found very useful and requested the information in a briefing note.
An APG is an informal grouping of MPs and Peers, which enables Parliamentarians to gather to discuss a particular topic. Arising from this the APG or individual members may then take action such as raising a debate, placing an Early Day Motion or approaching Government Ministers. There are around 600 APGs in Parliament covering everything from Arts and Heritage to cheese. Some are very active whilst others are more low key. Some may have external associate members (who may also provide the secretariat function) whilst others are purely for Parliamentarians. There is an Arts and Heritage APG already in existence but it was felt that this did not meet the needs of archives, although there are obvious synergies with it and the Archives APG, as well as with the Archaeology; Libraries & Information Management and History APGs.
Now that the APG has been established it will probably meet two or three times a year although NCA will also provide members with interim information as appropriate. The next important date is the 8 July when the APG will host a discussion with key guests such as Professor Lisa Jardine (historian and NCA Patron), Natalie Ceeney (CEO of the National Archives) and a senior representative of MLA. The APG also hopes to place an Early Day Motion to mark International Archives Day.
If you would like to know more about the APG please contact the NCA’s Head of Public Affairs, Rene Kinzett, Rene.Kinzett@nationalarchives.gov.uk 020 8392 5376.
Become a spokesperson for the NCA
The NCA is seeking people to speak on its behalf to the media and key organisations. If you would be interested in applying download the application form here. For more information contact Elizabeth Oxborrow-Cowan, Director of Publicity and Communication at elizabeth.ox@googlemail.com.
PSQG Presentations available
The twelfth annual quality forum for archives and local studies was held at The National Archives, Kew on Wednesday 7th November 2007 on the theme 'Balancing the impossible - security and access in archives'
