We’ve teamed up with Libraries Connected, Local Government Association and the Arts Council to commission Shared Intelligence to write a guide on Local Government Reorganisation to support archives and libraries.
This is a practical guide for those with professional responsibility for a local authority archive. The guide sets out the different models of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) that can be anticipated and suggests opportunities and challenges of different options drawing on experiences from places that have been through LGR before. The guide includes a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) template and a readiness checklist to support preparedness. Information and ideas have been gleaned directly from the sector working through focus groups.
Different models
This document does not indicate preferred models – each locality is different – but it provides information and checklists to help library and archive teams contribute positively to LGR discussions about future operational arrangements.
Adopting a state of readiness
This period is all about getting your service into a state of readiness for change – getting actively involved in preparations, reviewing core management information about staffing, buildings, IT systems, financials, service data, accreditation, partnerships and getting systems in order. There is a useful checklist to help achieve this and it serves as a helpful prompt to get up to date information where this is needed.
Relevant legislation
Relevant is provided including the Local Government Act 1972, Public Records Act 1958 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 2018.
What you can do now
- Use the SWOT analysis in this guide to understand the different routes you need to prepare for.
- Use the checklist to identify where you need to update information or systems.
- Reach out to us for further support