Raising standards

Designated collection at Discovery Museum

Raising standards

Through highlighting best practice, supporting improvement, running schemes such as Accreditation and Designation, and working to boost leadership and workforce skills, the MLA aims to help museums, libraries and archives achieve excellence.

Driving best practice

MLA’s best practice case studies are designed to inspire the sector and provide evidence of how museums, libraries and archives

Improvement

Our improvement and performance management resources have been developed within the context of the National Improvement and...

Accreditation Scheme

MLA's Museum Accreditation Scheme sets out nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK. There are currently over 1800

Workforce development

In the drive for excellence in museums, libraries and archives, the MLA has an ambitious agenda relating to workforce,...

Collections management

MLA supports or contributes to a variety of initiatives to provide comprehensive advice and information for everyone involved in

Designation Scheme

MLA’s Designation Scheme identifies the pre-eminent collections of national and international importance held in England's...

Designing libraries

An information resource and forum on library planning and design. It includes a database of images and latest news on library

Responsibilities transfer

From 1st October 2011, this site will not be updated, so please treat it as the static archive it is. This is because <a target="_Blank" href="http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a> has now taken over museums and libraries responsibilities. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> has assumed responsibility for strategic leadership of the Archives sector. Arts Council responsibilities will also now include the Renaissance programme, Museum Accreditation, and Library Development, together with cultural property services such as Export Licensing and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The National Archives has assumed responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the archives sector and advising government on its development. The MLA is now winding down, with a skeleton staff remaining until May 2012 to complete the management of existing Renaissance contracts, complete outstanding financial and contractual arrangements and prepare for the appointment of a liquidator. This website will remain live until 31st March so that the public still has full access to the material on it – good practice case studies, toolkits, guidance and a range of other publications. Continue reading

Related links
delivering programmes
MLA manages, funds and leads on major programmes and strategic initiatives to develop the sector
developing policy
The MLA plays an active role in the development of national and regional policy, helping ensure museums,libraries and archives make an effective contribution to the delivery of public priorities
funding and support
The MLA supports the sector in a variety of ways, ranging from financial grants for improvement and other projects, through to consultancy advice and published toolkits.
library support
Before any decision to introduce change is made it’s important for local authorities to know about the models of good practice that already exist. MLA's Library Action Plan, good practice case studies and research offer support and ideas.