Federation Of Family History Societies

Results of the 2008 local authority archive survey

According to the latest survey, co-ordinated by The National Archives, the larger services are more likely to be high-performing than smaller ones.

The main challenges identified by the survey are:

• Preserving digital records: no archive service yet has an active digital preservation programme, though some promising developments have been brought to light
• Cataloguing and access: most services still have large backlogs of uncatalogued or inadequately catalogued material, which makes material harder to access
• Buildings and facilities: many archive services need better facilities to secure a sustainable future and quality of service provision

Nevertheless, the survey also revealed some champions in the archive sector, demonstrating the real value of these important institutions. The top five were:

• London Metropolitan Archives (88%)
• Norfolk (85.6%)
• Hampshire (84.5%)
• East Riding of Yorkshire (81%) joint with West Sussex (81%)
• Westminster (80.5%)

Details of the survey results can be found at
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/285.htm?WT.lp=n-33642

Roger Lewry
FFHS Archives Liaison

8 April 2009