Background to Action for Archives  The MLA was invited by government in 2002 to set up a Task Force to review the state of the UK's archives. The aim of the Archives Task Force has been to open up archives, ensuring they are relevant and accessible to everyone.
The Task Force has undertaken a detailed investigation and analysis of the state of the UK's archives, bringing to fore their immense capacity to change lives, From 2002-2003 the Task Force has held the most extensive consultation into archives in over 50 years, with over 700 submissions from archive users and those working in archives and records management. It found a vibrant archives community experiencing unprecedented growth in demands upon it. The recommendations of the Task Force report aim to make a real difference and impact on individuals and communities. It's an ambitious agenda, but this work is essential to create a strategy for national knowledge management, and for saving and storing our present for future generations. Members of the Archives Task Force  Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future: Executive summary and recommendations
 Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future: Executive summary and recommendations
Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future: The report of the Archives Task Force - Full report
Gwrando ar y gorffennol, Siarad i’r Dyfodol (3MB) The following contain information about the work of the Archives Task Force. The nine Annexes (A to I) to the Archives Task Force report, together with the Questions & Answers paper contain research and other contextual information which supports the conclusions of the Archives Task Force.
Annexes & Contextual Information The following contains information about the work of the Archives Task Force. The nine Annexes (A to I) to the Archives Task Force report, together with the Questions & Answers paper contain research and other contextual information which supports the conclusions of the Archives Task Force. Minutes and papers of Archives Task Force Meetings
Full agendas, minutes and papers of all eight Archives task Force meetings. Archives Task Force Research Essays
'Think-piece' essays on the themes of Online Access, Learning, Stewardship and Infrastructure that sparked the Archives Task Force's deliberations. The Archives Task Force Vision The Archives Task Force vision is of "an archival heritage unlocked and made open to all citizens in a way that engages them and empowers them to use archives for personal, community, social and economic benefit." The primary recommendation of the Archives Task Force is the creation of a new digital Archives Gateway into our archival treasure house that will give convenient access to everyone, whatever their need. This exciting vision builds on strong foundations of service and innovation, but will call for new funding, new competencies and the commitment of everyone involved in archives. A programme of modernisation, research, advocacy and capacity building will ensure that archives fully support national agendas such as education and learning, social inclusion and volunteering. Why have an Archives Task Force? Archives are the prime evidence of the history of everyone. Yet this history is all too often hidden from our view. The Archives Task Force has thrown a searchlight on UK archives to demonstrate how this rich inheritance can be better understood, looked after and used. The recommendations of the Archives task Force report will be a catalyst for a fundamental and far-reaching programme of change for UK archives for all those who work in archives, use archives and potential use archives. Why are archives important? Archives, generated by individuals, families, businesses or institutions, tell the story of our past, showing us - and future generations - how we came to be what we are as individuals, as communities and as a nation. It is important for us to be aware of our history as this leads to a better understanding of ourselves, our neighbours and communities, our rich and culturally diverse heritage and the achievements of our nation. Archives offer a thrilling immediacy of contact with historical events - film footage of the fall of the Berlin wall; the love notes passed between Queen Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex, or the digitally recorded proceedings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. Maps, plans, drawings and posters are things of beauty in their own right with important significance, such as the works of art produced by official war artists. United Kingdom archives sustain research in every branch of knowledge, whether the arts, humanities or sciences. They are the cornerstone of our legal system, and enshrine the memory of the nation. They include manuscripts, books, photographs, maps, plans, sound and moving images, and digital records. Archives are preserved in the national archive institutions, local authority archives services run by local government, universities, libraries and museums. Some businesses and charities maintain and provide public access to their archives, as do some private and specialist institutions. Our archives are unique, irreplaceable national assets.
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