Themes
Work and politics dominate our lives and have shaped much of the heritage of the West Midlands and the UK. The project will create comprehensive physical and on-line access to information held in West Midlands’ archive collections.
The focus is a group of 18 collections relating to work and politics from the 12th – 20th centuries. The collections range from the records of medieval estates in Warwickshire to manufacturing industries in the Black Country and the politics of Oswald Mosley.
The information made available through this project will provide a rich source of learning enabling all users to explore how local events in the West Midlands have shaped the region and impacted on the national and international stage.

The Project Aims are:

1. To increase physical and online access to archive collections identified by local offices as priorities for meeting user needs.
2. To widen awareness of collection content to improve service to current users and develop new audiences
3. To develop a strategic approach to opening up access to uncatalogued archive collections and meeting user needs
4. To develop strategic partnerships working within the archive domain and in relationship to MLA West Midlands and the wider cultural sector.

Please click on the pdf documents for more information about the Collections.

The Project Staff
The Project Manager, Judith Karena, is first point of contact about the project: and is based as MLA West Midlands offices in Birmingham. Contact details: 0121 631 5827

Research and Publications on Collections
In tandem with the drive to catalogue and document the region’s collection work will be undertaken to build a picture of the nature and extent of research and publication on collections held in the region. This will involve the development of partnerships at various levels (professional specialist groups, FE/HE, community and local interest groups) to explore how research and publications can be increased, promoted and sustained and to facilitate the sharing of understanding of museum, library and archive collections.
Over the next year 2004-2005 contact will be made with representatives of specialist curator groups, local studies librarians, research communities and so forth to discuss how MLA West Midlands can most effectively support and enhance or develop the network of information and knowledge that exist are emerging or would be welcome within the region.

For more information please contact: Philip Kiberd, Content Co-ordination Officer, MLA West Midlands e-mail: tel – 0121 631 5821

Digitisation of collections
Desk-top research into the past and current digitisation of collections is ongoing. A body of data is being developed as to what has been digitized and what is planned and this information will be made available. As part of this exercise an assessment is being made of current content in relation to specific collections and how this correlates to the strengths of collections held in the region. Working with the sector activity in this area will support and encourage the development of further digital content. This will involve the identifying potential partnership opportunities, information on developments in the digital world, including valuable projects outside of the region and the sector, products, where appropriate and the sourcing of expertise and skills available to museums, libraries and archives in the region. Work will also focus on the use and impact of digital content and its broader potential for supporting learning, tourism and external service delivery and socio-economic opportunities. It is the intention that the ICT Network, set-up in 2003 will be used as the main focal-point for the dissemination and collation of information.

Conservation facilities and expertise
An exercise to identify and map facilities and conservation presence and expertise in the region was undertaken during the end of 2003 and early 2004. The report detailing findings is available on this site. This work has provided an insight into the range of facilities and expertise that currently exists in the region. The report is not a static document. Rather it has been put together to kick-start a process of building a network to sharing expertise, knowledge and facilities. Equally, where omissions or errors are identifiable we would ask that you send us information or amendments to ensure that the data we hold is valid and up-to-date.
The next stage in our work on conservation, to be taken forward by the Content Co-ordination Officer and the Stewardship and Standards Officer is to engage with those conservators and services with facilities, in tandem with professional bodies and the Museum Hub, to explore practical ways in which skills and space can be shared and effectively used for the benefit of the region’s collections and service delivery.
Over the next few months we will be engaging in direct dialogue with services to look in detail at real and practical ways in which facilities can be developed and in setting-up an infrastructure by which conservation expertise can be identified and shared to the benefit of all parties. This activity will be used as the cornerstone of our Stewardship Strategy, which will provide a proactive framework within which to support the needs of the sector.

For more information please contact: Philip Kiberd, Content Co-ordination Officer, MLA West Midlands e-mail: tel – 0121 631 5821

Collection Development
Collections underpin the work of the sector and are the raison d’etere of the museum, library and archive world. The development of collections from acquisition to disposal is therefore an area in which MLA West Midlands will work closely with the sector. Our aim will be to take an holistic view ensuring an understanding of how one element fits into the wider picture and also to support the development of collections from a knowledge management perspective.
Five key areas will be addressed over the next year;

• Collection policies
• Rationalization
• Contemporary collecting
• Use and impact of collections

Activity that falls under these headings will comprise the collation of collecting policies and consultation with the sector on common elements and the sharing of information. We will engage with the sector in the debate on rationalization and how this can be effectively achieved in the region without undermining the character of individuality that services have. By acting as focal point for the dissemination of information and contacts we will work with the sector to develop useful infrastructures to aid acquisition of collections, in particular contemporary material.
Our desire is to maintain a strong dialogue with the sector that will enable MLA West Midlands to achieve a solid understanding of the range and nature of collections held here so that we can be true advocates of the wealth of heritage and knowledge in our region.
To achieve this end we will actively collate a body of data on the use and impact of collections and to work with individual establishments and services to identify a priority list of collections and collection needs. Within the Knowledge Development Team this prioritization will focus on the harvesting of information and mechanism to encourage and support the sector in identifying collecting opportunities and the sharing of knowledge as well as compiling valuable understanding of regional needs that can be used within our advocacy programmes. Between June 2004 and April 2005 we will discuss with the sector what is the appropriate level of centralized infrastructure for sharing information, opportunities, and develop relationships with external bodies to monitor and act as regional focal point on collecting issues in collaboration with the Museum Hub.

For more information please contact: Philip Kiberd, Content Co-ordination Officer, MLA West Midlands e-mail: tel – 0121 631 5821

MLA West Midlands in conjunction with Screen West Midlands (the regional screen agency); East Midlands Museum Library and Archive Council (EMMLAC); EM Media (screen agency in the East Midlands) and the Media Archive of Central England (MACE) are undertaking to develop a shared regional audiovisual strategy and action plan.

This will develop from the national framework for audiovisual archives ‘Hidden Treasures: The UK Audiovisual Archive Strategic Framework’ see: http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/sfa_ht.pdf and the recommendations of the Archives Task Force see: http://www.mla.gov.uk/action/archives/atf.asp

For more information please contact: Simon Bennett, Knowledge Development Manager, MLA West Midlands e-mail: telephone 0121 631 5821