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'Archives for the 21st Century' is the government policy on archives, published in November 2009 following consultation with the archives sector.

Archives for the 21st Century Policy (PDF, 1.75Mb)

The policy is our strategic vision for the sustainable development of the archive sector across England and Wales. It has five recommendations:

  • Develop bigger and better services in partnership - working towards increased sustainability within the sector
  • Strengthen leadership and a form a responsive, skilled workforce
  • Co-ordinate the response to the growing challenge of managing digital information, so that it is accessible now and remains discoverable in the future
  • Create comprehensive online access for archive discovery through catalogues and to digitised archive content by citizens at a time and place that suits them
  • Encourage active participation in cultural and learning partnerships that promote a sense of identity and place within the community

Our response

The National Archives and Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) are working together to help the sector develop the five recommendations for archives services set out in the policy by:

  • providing advice and guidance on how to improve the service for customers
  • advocating the value of leadership development
  • working with partners to develop training initiatives to diversify the workforce and widen entry routes into the sector
  • developing and publishing a national digital preservation strategy
  • promoting awareness about digital preservation, providing support and advice
  • sharing evidence of best practice and developing standards for digital places of deposit
  • working in partnership to deliver comprehensive online access to catalogues through UK Archival Description (UKAD) network
  • publishing guidance and giving advice on collection development
  • co-ordinating large-scale commercial digitisation projects and maintaining the National Cataloguing Grants Scheme.
  • showcasing best practice on partnership working and engaging with community archives

We are working with Lifelong Learning UK, Archives and Records Association, British Library, Digital Preservation Coalition, CyMAL, PRONI and the National Archives of Scotland to achieve this.

We published 'Archives for 21st Century in action' in March 2010. This highlighted the actions archives senior managers and funders can take in response to the policy, and the support and guidance The National Archives and MLA can provide.

Archives for the 21st Century in action (PDF, 0.71Mb)

Support and guidance we are offering the archives sector

Further information on plans for support and guidance can also be found in the action plan for England.  Both documents have been developed with stakeholders from all parts of the sector.

We are working with MLA and CyMAL on the Welsh Action Plan.

Archives for the 21st Century: response to consultation - report (PDF, 0.35Mb)

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