皇冠体育app

Support and leadership for the UK鈥檚 archive sector will transfer to 皇冠体育app National Archives (TNA) from April 2012 following the closure of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), Culture Minister Ed Vaizey announced today.

皇冠体育appre are well over 2000 bodies, both public and private, that hold regularly accessible archives in the UK including universities, local authorities and other institutions.听

MLA鈥檚 current role involves acting as an advocate for the sector and helping archives improve their services and public access.听听 Challenges include the growing need to manage digital information, promoting an innovative approach to delivering the highest standards in service, and responding to public demand for online access to digitised content.

Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp UK鈥檚 2000 archives are the gateway to our national heritage and 皇冠体育app National Archives is perfectly placed to take on this leadership role, acting as an advocate for the sector and strengthening and reinforcing our network of archive provision.听

鈥淚 am very grateful to the MLA for the work they and 皇冠体育app National Archives have done in supporting the archive sector and I am confident that 皇冠体育app National Archives will continue this important stewardship role.鈥�

皇冠体育app Department for Culture, Media and Sport is now working with and the on the transfer of responsibilities and the timing of the transfer.听TNA and MLA are also working with on cross cultural sector initiatives involving museums, libraries and archives.

Commenting on the transition, Justice Minister Lord McNally said:
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鈥淥ur country鈥檚 archives are one of our greatest national treasures, preserving our history for future generations and underpinning our national identity. I am pleased that 皇冠体育app National Archives is taking on responsibility for overseeing the wider archive sector. TNA鈥檚 excellent track record will help it to work effectively with local government, business and private sector partners, ensuring our heritage is in safe hands.鈥�

Welcoming the move, Oliver Morley, Chief Executive and Keeper, 皇冠体育app National Archives said:

鈥淏eing at the forefront of archive sector development we will be looking to share technologies and business processes; provide advice on archival best practice and help broaden archives鈥� access to funding pools. Even in tough financial circumstances, our focus will continue to be on sustaining and preserving the record, and making it more accessible to the public and volunteers than it ever has been before.鈥�

Notes to Editors

1. Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is the government鈥檚 agency for developing and improving England鈥檚 museums, libraries and archives. Through strategic leadership, it seeks to promote best practice in museums, libraries and archives.听 皇冠体育app MLA is being abolished as part of the Government鈥檚 review of arm鈥檚 length bodies.

2. 皇冠体育app National Archives is a government department and an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. As the official archives of the UK government, it cares for, makes available a vast collection of over 1000 years of historical records.听 皇冠体育app National Archives also manages current digital information and devises new technological solutions for keeping government records readable now and in the future. It provides world class research facilities and expert advice, publishes all UK legislation and official publications, and is a leading advocate for the archive sector. At the heart of information policy, 皇冠体育app National Archives sets standards of best practice that actively promotes and encourages public access to, and the re-use of information, both online or onsite at Kew. This work helps inform today鈥檚 decisions and ensures that they become tomorrow鈥檚 permanent record.

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