ARCHIVES UNLOCKED RELEASING THE POTENTIAL RELEASING THE POTENTIAL OF .

MINISTERIAL FOREWORD. Archives sit at the heart of our collective understanding: who we are, where we came from, and, indeed, where we are going.

The materials that archives hold So Archives Unlocked is an ambitious economically, and intellectually. challenge, inspire and transform what vision. It recognises and celebrates Archives Unlocked sees a future in we think we know of times, events the value of archives within the wider which businesses, creative industries, and people, past and present. In this cultural sector and across society. arts organisations, academia, and digital age, with so much focus on the Digital transformation is at its heart: communities can fully exploit archives. management and security of data, the democratisation of information and archives and their collections make the knowledge, the boundless creativity and The , as sector leader, national local and the local global. innovation made possible by archival will work with archives, partners and material, and the confidence we can all users to make this ambition a reality, and In part, thanks to the opportunities share in exploring and using the record, rise to the challenges we face. of new technology, this is an exciting supported by world-class archival time for archives. For the people that practice. It is time to unlock the potential. experience and use them, and for those who are dedicated to developing and Embracing these opportunities will allow THE RT HON MATT HANCOCK MP preserving their uniqueness. archives to thrive and contribute fully to MINISTER OF STATE FOR DIGITAL AND the wellbeing of our nation, culturally, CULTURE.

INTRODUCTION. Imagine a world without archives. Without records, we could not prove where and when we were born, or who owns the property we live in.

We could not trace our ancestry, explore IN SHORT: ARCHIVES MATTER. technologies are opening up our archives our collective and individual identities, like never before, to local, national and or challenge established views of the Our collections need to be used to be global audiences keen to learn and be past. Without this collective memory, the useful. Until they are unlocked, inspired. We need an archives sector that evidence store for our histories, we could records are just papers, images, or can evolve and adapt to change. Working not hold governments and organisations sequences of bytes. Once revealed, they together, we can ensure that the benefits to account. The impact of archives is felt can tell us our stories, bringing alive the of archives are realised and enjoyed by across society: inspiring art and literature; people, events and decisions that got us future generations. influencing product design and branding; here today. Archives have the power to enabling insightful and pioneering change peoples lives. research; and informing decision-making in organisations of all types. The publics interest in archives and what they have to offer is growing, and digital THE VISION ARCHIVES UNLOCKED.

Archives will strengthen society through the trust they inspire, the enrichment they offer and their openness to all. We will be the home of world-leading archives, both digital and physical. People will be able to find and navigate collections, and have confidence that reliable archival evidence exists to support their research. Our collections will reflect all of society, so that, whether an individual, community or organisation, archives can tell us who we are and how we got here.

THE AMBITIONS AT THE HEART OF THE VISION ARE.

TRUST people and institutions trust in the authenticity of archive records, and how they are preserved and presented.

ENRICHMENT archives enhance and enrich our society intellectually, culturally and economically.

OPENNESS archives cultivate an open approach to knowledge and are accessible to all.

WHATS DRIVING THE NEED FOR CHANGE? Discussions with stakeholders have highlighted these key drivers of change:

CONFIDENCE IN DATA AND INFORMATION People need to have confidence in the integrity of institutions. Organisations need to be open and transparent, and high profile enquiries into the history and culture of public, corporate and charitable bodies have highlighted the evidential value of records.

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE Digital technology has fundamentally changed what it means to be an archive. Archivists can help the IT and knowledge management communities by bringing professional archival practice to this digital world.

USER EXPECTATIONS Society is changing, opening up new uses for data and records, and posing new questions about what is collected now and in the future, in both paper-based documents and digital formats. THE VISION. ARCHIVES UNLOCKED.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT. This vision is the result of extensive consultation and development work within the archives sector, with our partners and beyond. Further details of those involved can be found at the end of the document.

The vision articulates three ambitions for the benefits which archives will deliver. Emerging from each of these is a set of outcomes which underpin our action plan. We have set out to keep the core of the vision very simple and concise, bringing its ambitions to life with case studies and think-pieces. The case studies showcase existing good practice and innovation in the archives sector. The think-pieces are from contributors both within and beyond the archives sector and seek to challenge existing practice and provoke new ideas about the future.

The document ends with a high-level overview of the action plan which articulates how our partnership of archive institutions and external partners, with support from The National Archives, will help the sector deliver the outcomes we have expressed.

THINK-PIECE. Collecting and the archive ecology.

Over the past few decades, both the from interventions, if based on a deep risk of being lost, either because they are archival landscape and the role of understanding, and supported by not preserved or not visible to potential archivists have changed fundamentally. long-term, comprehensive and detailed users. There is now a wider definition of information. We have seen the response archives, which are being created in of zoos, which have developed from being Archivists now share stewardship of ways that are more varied, complex self-contained sub-sections of the natural archives, but retain a key collective and (especially in the digital realm) less world to multi-faceted participants in responsibility in ensuring their survival visible and tangible. There is also greater wildlife conservation. In short, ecologies and sustainability. To do that effectively, diversity in the ways in which archives can and should be nurtured. they need the support of policymakers, are preserved and used. Archivists are no employers and funders. Together we need longer the sole focus of collecting, but We need an equally collective response to know a lot more about the archive are helping others to do the same. They for an archive ecology, a new vision, ecology and to be prepared to act on that have become participants in an archive in several senses. This starts with an knowledge. ecology, rather than gatekeepers to it. aspiration that it encompasses the entirety of potential archives now being JUDY BURG The term ecology suggests created, as diverse and complex as the HEAD OF ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL interdependence and organic society they record. It also requires COLLECTIONS development, with no single director or oversight and foresight: a comprehensive DURHAM UNIVERSITY predetermined end point. We know that understanding of archives, now and in ecologies can be harmed in unpredictable the future. We need to extend our field of ways by external factors and can benefit vision and action to those records still at TRUST. People and institutions trust Democracy and society are strengthened by scrutiny of the archival in the authenticity of archive record, holding institutions and individuals to account. records, and how they are Archive users have confidence in the integrity and authenticity of preserved and presented. records, and in the professionals who support their research. Services embrace the opportunities of technological change, ensuring confidence in both digital and physical records.

CASE STUDY. Protecting our digital memory: E-ARK.

E-ARK is a pioneering global research and the Digital Preservation Coalition. an open source tool that connects to project, aimed at improving the Discussing the biblical significance of the live databases and migrates data to the technologies of digital archiving to ensure project name, project leader Professor appropriate preservation format. This that records and databases remain Janet Delve points out that never before vastly reduces the cost of getting material authentic and usable over time. It has in human history have we been at risk of into archives, and opens up competition brought together international practice to losing so much knowledge in one go. If in the commercial sector to provide the develop the first ever end-to-end digital you are careless with digital information, best solutions. archive system. This single, scalable, it is gone forever. robust system can be used by all memory KEY LEARNING POINT. institutions, public and private, large The partnership approach makes best and small, to meet the challenge of born use of the existing expertise of each Janet concludes that the strong network digital records. It has the potential to be participating archive, and also supports of partners means the project is greater truly transformative. them in learning new skills from others. than the sum of its parts: instead of each This provides a better service to users archive having a bit of expertise, every The project partnership of national in the long term, and fosters consistent archive can have a whole system to share. archives from across Europe, Chile and approaches on an international scale. In That means a massive improvement in the United States of America is supported one example of the projects work, The terms of cost and skills. by experts at the University of Brighton developed

THINK-PIECE Trust in the digital future

Its exhilarating, perhaps the most exciting Todays digital archivists must rapidly we make available about what we do time to be an archivist that theres ever develop new archival practices, with and in digital archives. Just like showing been. The digital challenge for archives for each new generation of technology. your workings in a school maths exam, today is one of pace. The days of digitally The rub is that the digital challenge trust in digital archives should mean simulating long-established archival for archives can never be completely demonstrating what we are doing in practices devised for physical records solved. This is not about moving from ways that others can see and verify. The are behind us. Snapchat, Google Docs, one relatively steady state of archival digital archivist, equipped with hashing microservices, blockchains, neural practice to a new steady state for digital. algorithms and cryptography as their networks, all disrupt how information is We are moving from relative stability tools of the trade, can remain trusted created, encoded and used. All disrupt to continual change. This raises an custodians in this digital future. archiving, requiring fundamentally new important question: as archives move capabilities and approaches. more quickly, how do we retain the JOHN SHERIDAN legitimacy we confer on the digital DIGITAL DIRECTOR Ultimately, even in this digital age, it evidence we preserve? THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. falls to archivists to create and sustain archives. Until now, how we do that, Archival practice is key for rapidly archival theory and practice, has tended evolving digital archives. The opportunity to evolve quite gradually over the last is to shift the basis of trust, from the 120 years (albeit with the occasional leap, authority of the archive as an institution thanks to archive theorists like Jenkinson to transparency of archival practice. This or Schellenberg). trust must be founded on the evidence Archives are not just about things already past; they will capture the histories of the present and the future. People TRUST. need to trust that the record will be preserved, whether paper or digital, and made available to future generations.

CASE STUDY. Finding the evidence: Independent Police Complaints Commission/Hillsborough investigation.

In a devastating tragedy, 96 Liverpool The Independent Police Complaints preserving original records and keeping supporters died due to overcrowding at Commission (IPCC) is now carrying out order in archives are vital. The power and Hillsborough football stadium on 15 April its first historic inquiry into the role importance of these records for holding 1989. 27 years later, a jury found the of the police, both during and in the individuals and organisations to account victims had been unlawfully killed. This aftermath of the disaster. A significant for their actions continues to be their conclusion was the result of decades of amount of the evidence for the IPCCs lasting legacy. campaigning by families of the deceased, investigation comes directly from the and highlighted that records are a historical material, with managed KEY LEARNING POINT. powerful tool for accountability. access to the vast collection of records provided by a professional archivist. Archive Manager Rebekah Taylor says: The ruling was made possible by the The archivist supports the needs of the Being able to demonstrate that an release in 2012 of all the material relating investigative teams, and has introduced organisation like the IPCC is committed to the incident, 450,000 documents from robust processes to support collection, to preserving the quality and integrity of 85 sources. The Hillsborough Independent collation, cataloguing and access. these important documents, is key to Panel had recommended that a Managing the archive material in this way accountability and public confidence. Permanent Archive be established. While ensures its integrity and authenticity. The physical records are largely split between investigations work with the archive has Sheffield Archives, Liverpool Archives underlined the importance of maintaining and The National Archives, digital copies documents which could become vital in of the material are all available on the future investigations. It demonstrates panels website. the value of robust practice: both

THINK-PIECE. Telling stories.

When the journalist Joan Didion wrote Part of the BBC Archives value is that it along with the capacity of our drives we tell ourselves stories in order to live is the creation of one institution over and tapes. Nothing is accessible without (in The White Album, 1979), she was almost a century, giving it cohesiveness indexes and catalogues, and in the expressing a deep truth about how we even in its incompleteness. There is an future we will value them as much as construct meaning in our lives. Many of ideology that permeates it, its contents the archived object. The choices made our stories come from those relics of the were largely decided upon by the sort as we add metadata will embody the past that live in our archives, libraries of people who work for the BBC, which beliefs of the archivists as much as the and galleries. Some are newly minted; researchers and users should at least choice of items to preserve, and we others retell and reframe the past to note as they pass among the shelves and must remember this and expose it, as better understand the present. And the search the catalogues. While perhaps not we tell stories on the backs of these archive too is a story: whether creative always so apparent, we know that every new collections. We have told ourselves fiction, careful scholarship or news collection was shaped in some way, and stories in order to live: we can use a journalism, any exploration of an archive the story of that shaping must be part of greater understanding of the choices must grapple with questions surrounding our understanding and assessment of the that shape an archive to build ourselves the collection itself, why and how was authority of the finished product. catalogues that will help us thrive. this material preserved? Is this all, or is there missing work that will change my The ways we use archives to tell our BILL THOMPSON perspective? How can this selection of stories has shifted with electronic HEAD OF PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT past material have authority? collections as the sheer volume of BBC ARCHIVE available data increases exponentially, ENRICHMENT. Archives enhance and enrich Our culture of knowledge and learning expands through new ways to discover and use archive material. our society intellectually, Value in businesses grows through the use of archive material to support economically and culturally. change, innovation and efficiency. Peoples lives are enhanced through their engagement with archive collections.

CASE STUDY. Recovering our past: Barnardos Archive.

Established in 1867, Barnardos works to The way the archive works is now retention policy has now been changed transform the lives of the most vulnerable very user-focused. Archive Manager, to preserve more case files, recognising children across the UK. Once famous for Martine King, says: It is a massive decision the enormous value of these files to the its care homes, the charity now supports for people to contact us, as there is no individuals involved and to their families. over 900 services, including fostering and assurance about what they might find and adoption. Barnardos Archive has changed how it matches what they have previously KEY LEARNING POINT the way in which former residents and been told. The service gives people choice their relatives access their personal about how to research, either in the Martine concludes, We are helping lots records, recognising what it means for privacy of their home, or in the supportive of people to understand all variations people to understand their past. environment of the charity. of experience of being in care, and how important it is to learn from our past, Open access to records began in 1995, Among developments to support users, question and improve the way we predating the Data Protection Act, after the archive has invested 120,000 pounds support and protect children today. a BBC documentary fuelled a spike in to digitise 500,000 photographs. In Our ongoing legacy of duty to those enquiries. The archive now meets the the absence of a family home, these who were in our care, our long experience needs of former residents and their photographs may be the only images of working with our former children, families by enabling access to records, people have of their own childhoods. Ease and of course the archive itself, are all and providing support through the of use is paramount, so Barnardos Archive powerful tools for informing that debate difficult process of receiving what might is working with the Wellcome Trust to and recovering precious fragments from be painful or confusing information. develop an archive catalogue and improve the past. their finding aids. Furthermore, the

THINK-PIECE. Are archives good for our wellbeing?

Archives give me a sense of joy, as they sense of belonging. Perhaps surprisingly, that supports ease and choice in do for many others; the question, then, governance and the trust in our collective opportunities for interaction is also a is why?. At the What Works Centre for institutions is a factor in our happiness, magic formula for wellbeing. Wellbeing, we are looking at evidence of and archives are at the heart of this what can be done to improve wellbeing national accountability. Understanding the connection between in the UK. There are clear benefits to things we value and our happiness will this goal; we get ill less and recover There are social benefits of archives help us see how spending decisions more quickly, we are more creative, too, providing another of the five ways; can improve wellbeing in the UK. The collaborative, and giving. We perform the connections, trust and the sense of challenge is for the archives sector to better at work; and have stronger social community that come from everyday develop its understanding of these and networks. So what evidence is there on interactions are vital for our wellbeing. other connections, and harness them to wellbeing that is relevant to archives? Studies have suggested that the impact increase our happiness. of unwanted social isolation, loneliness, Archives make us think, and learning is may be as bad for health as smoking, * an evidence-based set of practical actions people can undertake in their everyday lives and that one of the five ways to wellbeing.* Of and increases the risk of conditions decision-makers can build into policy, along with these five ways, learning drops off most including dementia. Sharing positive give, connect, take notice and be active. dramatically with age in the UK, which emotions, including the things we suggests a potential role for archives in experience in an archive, such as feeling NANCY HEY an ageing population. An understanding interested, engaged or having a sense of DIRECTOR of our personal and shared histories, accomplishment, makes their effect on WHAT WORKS CENTRE FOR and constructing an intergenerational us stronger. This is important as we tend WELLBEING sense of self, connects us with something to notice negative feelings more strongly much larger than ourselves, giving us a than positive ones. A social environment ENRICHMENT. The power of archives is in both their evidential and emotional impact. Whether revisiting national history or telling the story of your own family, they turn names into personalities, give us the arguments behind decisions and reveal the complexity of individuals, communities and societies.

CASE STUDY. The DNA of a business: John Lewis Partnership Archive.

The 150th anniversary of retailer John Le Creuset ovenware and an updated In addition to the regular work Lewis, in 2014, provided the archive with version of a classic Silver Cross pram. undertaken by the archive team, the an opportunity to demonstrate its value, One such product was the revival of a building is now open to the public one day and contribute to innovation. The archive DaisyChain design created by Pat Albeck a week. A programme of talks, team days, was used to reinforce the brands history in the 1960s, which was itself a homage events and craft activities ensure that the and values, and to celebrate its unique to the work of British designer William archive is now the cultural heart of an partnership model. From the principle of Morris, emphasising the importance of international business. never knowingly undersold, to its famous heritage to the organisation. customer service, the company today KEY LEARNING POINT remains closely connected to its past and The archive helped boost sales during actively uses this knowledge to inspire the anniversary period. Furthermore, Judy Faraday, John Lewis Partnership those working in business now and in the the work also reinforced the value which Archivist, says: The investment in the future. teams across the business derive from archive has undoubtedly released working with the archive. It highlights greater productivity and value through Using John Lewis comprehensive design the corporate memory which is in an ability to offer a great service to the archive, teams from across the business the DNA of the John Lewis Partnership business. The archive is genuinely at the worked with long-standing suppliers culture, as well as inspiring new store heart of the company, actively influencing to bring back fresh reinterpretations of designs, and supporting staff training and its future. iconic designs. Limited edition items were development. launched, such as a Smeg fridge,

THINK-PIECE. Archives and economic growth.

What do archives contribute towards Returning to economic growth, as Chair Of course, archives have always been able economic growth or economic of the Business Archives Council, I see to create these impacts. However, in the development? It is not a question that many interesting examples of firms digital world there is the opportunity to is very often considered, let alone the benefitting from the use of their historic unlock even more data and information, technicalities of how this would be records. They can be used to develop new and in ways that were not possible, or measured. While it is undoubtedly a product lines based on heritage designs, even imaginable, before. This offers even challenge, I am sure that this is a missed or packaging might be given a retro greater potential to promote growth. opportunity. theme. Similarly, advertising campaigns The challenge is not just to think about can draw upon archive material to help how this can be done, but demonstrate Economic growth is typically discussed emphasise the history of a firm or to the impact. We know that, but we in terms of gross national product. That reinforce well-known brands. must convince others, and that means means increases in the total value of advocacy and evidence. goods and services produced by a country Sales of new products, advertising, the in any one year, making it richer. But there attachment to a trusted brand, this all Meanwhile, I look forward to a day are alternative measures, for example translates into consumer expenditure, when I read the headline Archives Make wellbeing or happiness. Experiences, into profits, into jobs and ultimately Us Richer. feelings and values, such as discovery, into growth. Whether that is a retailer education, justice and truth, all have selling clothes or cosmetics, or a financial MIKE ANSON worth to individuals and to society. institutions television advert resulting ARCHIVIST All are different forms of richness that in more customers, it all contributes to BANK OF ENGLAND ARCHIVE archives help deliver. the total value of goods and services produced. OPENNESS. Archives cultivate an open Archives deliver an excellent user experience, enabling people to find, approach to knowledge, and access and interpret archive records, whether digital or physical. are accessible to all. The rich diversity of society is reflected in our archives collections, users and workers.

Archives are networked globally to maintain excellent practice and open new possibilities for institutions and users.

CASE STUDY. Reaching new audiences: Archives+, Manchester..

Archives + is a partnership of archive used archives before, including young The development of collections now collections from across the region, people and people from marginalised comes from proper engagement with and the home of Manchesters history groups. communities who can work with many and heritage services. The documents, different archives. By working more photographs and films at the heart of the The citys reputation for radical thought effectively together, the archives also collection connect people with the story is reflected in the councils engagement have a louder voice and bigger influence of the city: its industry, its communities, agenda. Through the Activation on the citys cultural programme. and its history of radical politics. programme, the public themselves decide where the gaps in collections are, and KEY LEARNING POINT.. The redevelopment of Manchester Central use the archives to design and deliver Library provided the opportunity for their own heritage activities. Participants Kevin Bolton, the archivist who designed Archives+ to transform its relationship have included the Coalition of Disabled and delivered the project, says: It is no with local communities. The centre People, and black and minority ethnic longer always about us continuing to handed the power to its partners, who (BAME) communities, giving them a deliver projects, however worthy. It is a jointly curated the striking new exhibition unique opportunity to curate a digital big culture change for staff and partners in the buildings entrance, using their own exhibition that appears in a library that to be willing to cede control to the collections. The goal was to reach new has 1.4 million visitors a year, in addition community. But the rewards are worth audiences, people who may never have to online access. the effort.

THINK-PIECE. Archiving journeys to belonging.

For newish migrant-settler communities, Cultural Archives, currently, up and in collecting, evaluating, conserving, there is an accelerated interest in down the country, there are groups from interpreting and making records and archiving their journeys to belonging these same communities energetically archival materials accessible and available as full and valued citizens. For these discussing and devising new strategies to to educators and cultural animators. communities, archives have become a challenge that tired, debilitating narrative Central to all this will be the acquisition of site of struggle against social and political of inconsistent funding. Recognising that new archival skills by non-professionals, marginalisation and exclusion. There are errors of omission in dominant heritage assisted by established professionals. implications for the professional archivist narratives result as much from ignorance Providing this assistance will bring new establishment. Archivists have a vital role as disregard, cultural activists from these kinds of challenge to existing professional in reparative history-making. communities aim to assist in, as well as practice. These demands and difficulties demand, the plugging of the gaps. coming from marginalised constituencies Among Caribbean, South Asian, and can be viewed as daunting, or, they can be African migrant-settler communities, for Beyond the bold ambitions and demands grasped as exciting professional challenges example, from the last century until now, coming out of these and other newer for archivists. funding initiatives in support of heritage migrant-settler communities is the matter projects have often been piecemeal, of obtaining the active and proactive COLIN PRESCOD with a tendency to flavour-of-the- assistance of established archives and CHAIR moment tokenism. Notwithstanding archivists. This assistance will be needed INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS the arrival on the scene of the Black to address major archival challenges OPENNESS. Archives are for everyone. Just as our language, our culture and our high streets reflect changes in society, our records should too. When future generations look back at today, they need to see the vibrancy of our society and the diversity of our experience.

CASE STUDY. Seeing archives differently: Know Your Place, Bristol.

Know Your Place is a digital mapping of the First World War, new layers were screengrabs and prints from Know Your project which allows users to explore their added, plotting sites of significance for Place, users are now better informed by local area online, placing local history the conflict, such as munitions factories, evidence from the historic record. The and heritage at their fingertips. It ismore military hospitals and memorials. archive has seen use of its collections intuitive and flexible than a traditional greatly increase, and its success means archival catalogue, recognising that The website can be freely used by the project is now expanding to the when it comes to our streets, our towns individuals and groups, leading to South West region with support from the and our countryside, it is often easiest to exciting projects that build a sense of Heritage Lottery Fund. find things on a map. place. It has been used by Bristols LGBT+ community to map the shifting spaces KEY LEARNING POINT.. Know Your Place is a collaboration important to their history. Through the between Bristol Archives and the citys map, you can listen to peoples stories, City Archivist Julian Warren says, the planning team. The website uses historic view photographs, posters and flyers and mapping tool gives you so much data maps and street views alongside the explore places important to histories of in one place, with such rich context, councils pin-point mapping software, both toleration and oppression. that would have normally taken ages to overlaid with digital surrogates from a assemble in the search room. It is a win- wide range of collections. This can lead to A key project aim was to improve win for users, staff and the council. bespoke interpretations; for the centenary planning applications; by using

THINK-PIECE. The archivist of the future.

In periods of organisational change, Instead of focusing on digitisation, we will the materials but also disseminating the archives remain constant. This is true for need to curate content and engage new collection to wider audiences. governments, companies, or, as we have audiences, as the NT has started to do recently experienced at the National using the opportunities afforded by new Just as the NT strives to represent the Theatre (NT), a new artistic director. technologies such as the Google Cultural nation it serves, our sector must focus Since it was founded in 1963, the NT has Institute, virtual reality and apps. on diversifying our workforce across all had six artistic directors. Each brings their areas of the population to ensure that we own leadership and vision, shaping the Preservation, conservation and access are truly representative of our country. company in different ways; the archive have always been the backbone of our Fairer and more accessible routes into has an important role in recording those sector, and so they will continue to be the profession are needed to enrich our shifts, demonstrating its integral part to across different formats of materials. sector with diverse skills and knowledge. play in business continuity and as the This broader outlook on collections The sector increasingly needs skills authoritative source on performance should also encourage widespread and beyond the traditional, ensuring that we history. more sustained collaborations with can meet the challenges of fundraising, libraries, museums, and the education outreach, increasing demand for content In the future, digital expertise will become sector to ensure cross-pollination of and growing enthusiasm for engagement engrained in the traditional archive ideas and projects. The NTs involvement with users. skillset; approaches to paper, born digital with students has allowed us to open up and collections of other media will need one of our collections to a much wider ERIN LEE to merge. With the increasing levels researcher base than we would have ARCHIVIST of digitised archive content available otherwise thought, not only improving NATIONAL THEATRE online, the role of archivists will change. our understanding and appreciation of ACTION PLAN.

The National Archives is committed to realising this vision and we have developed an action plan to support it. The plan will be delivered in partnership with the whole archives sector, and partners from the wider cultural, digital, heritage and education spheres. We will revise the action plan on an annual basis.

To achieve our ambitions of trust, Build the sectors resilience to To make the plan enrichment and openness, we must ensure more archives can meet tackle the barriers to success. To and sustain the Archive Service happen, The National do so, we need to meet the key Accreditation standard, open the Archives will be challenges facing the sector, but sector to new skills and a more supported by a challenge also advocate for archives and ensure diverse workforce, increase income their value is understood. The action generation capacities, and support panel comprising leading plan will address three vital themes: innovative service models. organisations within the digital capacity, resilience and impact. sector, and partners from The plan will: Demonstrate the impact of archives by developing and expanding the wider cultural, digital Develop the digital capacity of the audiences, piloting approaches and education spheres. archives sector, to preserve digital to using data and evidence, and records and increase discoverability influencing thinking in the IT, of the paper and digital archive. commercial and knowledge sectors.

CONSULTATION PROCESS AND WHO WE WORKED WITH.

The National Archives leads and supports October 2016-January 2017 and we received a Group, Creative and Cultural Skills, Digital the sector of over 2,500 archives in England, further 130 responses to this. We also held six Preservation Coalition, FARMER, Find My and has statutory responsibilities for public expert panels with our key strategic partners to Past, Gale Cengage, Heritage Lottery Fund, records held by archive services in Wales, explore the draft vision in detail. Historic Houses Archivists Group, Imperial War where we work in collaboration with the Museum, Innovate UK, JISC, Local Government Throughout our consultation, we were Welsh Government. While Archives Unlocked is Association, London Metropolitan Archives, supported by a reference group from across focused on archives in England, we will continue National Media Museum, National Theatre, the archives sector. Reference group members to work with partners in the home nations and Polonsky Digital Preservation Programme, were: Mike Anson (Bank of England), Rob Baker internationally, to address the challenges and Pilgrim Trust, Rambert Archive, Religious (Blind Veterans Association), Kevin Bolton (then opportunities of using archives in a digital world Archives Group, Research Libraries UK, Tate, at Archives +), Judy Burg (Durham University), within a UK context, and to support research University of London Computer Centre, Sam Johnston (Dorset History Centre), Alex and innovation. Wellcome Trust and Zooniverse, in addition Miller (Wigan Council), Chris Mumby (The to academics and representatives from local HOW THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED National Archives), Arike Oke (Rambert archive services. Archive), Geoff Pick (London Metropolitan Archives Unlocked is the result of a process of Archives), Gary Tuson (Norfolk County Council), co-creation. We consulted widely, listening Chris Webb (York University), and Simon Wilson to a very broad range of voices from across Archives Unlocked and the accompanying (Hull History Centre). the archives sector: a range of funders and action plan were developed with the support of partners from the wider culture, heritage and Expert Panel members came from: Ancestry. Activist Group. information worlds, and archive users. com, Archives and Records Association, Arts and Humanities Research Council, Arts We ran four roundtables across England, Council England, BBC, Borthwick Institute, attended by 179 people from across the British Library, Business Archives Council, archives sector, and conducted an online Chief Archivists in Local Government Group, survey which received 235 responses. A public CILIP, CIPFA, Community Archives & Heritage consultation and survey on the draft vision ran © Crown copyright 2017 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is also available on our website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at [email protected]

Developed with the support of Activist Group.