Our approach hasbeen <strong>to</strong> develop andpropose strategiesthat can secureimpact in <strong>the</strong> short <strong>to</strong>medium term <strong>to</strong>unlock longer-termbenefit.
The Findings of <strong>the</strong> Task Forcecared for properly and this element of our national heritageis safeguarded for <strong>the</strong> future.Moreover all parts of <strong>the</strong> supply side need adequatesupport in terms of standards and professional advice.The national archive services in England and Wales,Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ireland and Scotland already provideconsiderable support but greater co-ordination will becalled for if <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>to</strong> be increased sharing <strong>to</strong> meet newdemands for archival records of all types, both privateand public.Developing a Strategic ResponseProgress on addressing <strong>the</strong> issues that we have identified(investment needs, domain capacity <strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong>changing demands, quality assurance, <strong>the</strong> benefits ofgreater integration and co-ordination across archives of alltypes, innovation and <strong>the</strong> broader impact that <strong>the</strong> archivescould have on people’s lives) depends on recognising whatis possible in terms of funding and of capacity at any giventime. The Task Force is very well aware that <strong>the</strong>re iscurrently considerable pressure <strong>to</strong> resist increased publicexpenditure without clear evidence <strong>to</strong> show that newinitiatives will help <strong>to</strong> deliver specific public sec<strong>to</strong>r targets.Our approach has been <strong>to</strong> develop and propose strategiesthat can secure impact in <strong>the</strong> short <strong>to</strong> medium term<strong>to</strong> unlock longer-term benefit.The key for archives is <strong>the</strong> unique value of <strong>the</strong>ircollections and <strong>the</strong> latent demand for what archives canoffer <strong>to</strong> everyone. This represents a powerful opportunity<strong>to</strong> catch <strong>the</strong> attention of policymakers especially whenset alongside <strong>the</strong> successful examples of serviceinnovation using information and communicationstechnologies <strong>to</strong> widen access <strong>to</strong> services.At <strong>the</strong> end of Chapter 1 we stated our vision for <strong>the</strong>archives domain:“An archival heritage unlocked and made open <strong>to</strong> allcitizens in a way that engages <strong>the</strong>m and empowers <strong>the</strong>m<strong>to</strong> use archives for personal, community, social andeconomic benefit.”We believe that by focusing on action <strong>to</strong> advance thisvision, real progress can be achieved and significant socialvalue delivered. Long term sustainability will come fromengaging as many people as possible with <strong>the</strong> archivalheritage whe<strong>the</strong>r for leisure, learning, personaldevelopment, business use or community activism.We cannot stress <strong>to</strong>o highly that our recommendations aredesigned <strong>to</strong> achieve effective and sustainable access <strong>to</strong>our national archival heritage wherever it may be, notsimply <strong>to</strong> raise awareness of archives and <strong>the</strong>ir services.Delivering effective, universal access calls for newstrategies and techniques that will engage individuals andcommunities, new skills and service priorities for thoseworking in archives and, of course, additional resources<strong>to</strong> ensure that <strong>the</strong>y are fit for purpose. However, we arecertain that with <strong>the</strong> commitment of archive workers andarchive owners, placing access as <strong>the</strong> highest priority,<strong>the</strong> support of funding bodies, partnership and leadership,rapid progress will be possible. We have identified manyexamples where imaginative approaches <strong>to</strong> access andinnovative responses <strong>to</strong> popular interests have made itpossible for far wider access <strong>to</strong> services than traditionalroutes can make possible. Commercial internet-basedgenealogical services, <strong>the</strong> work of The National Archives<strong>to</strong> support <strong>the</strong> curriculum through <strong>the</strong> Learning Curvewebsite 3 and <strong>the</strong> co-operative work of public archives<strong>to</strong> share electronic catalogue records are all examples ofwhere it has been possible <strong>to</strong> innovate without changing<strong>the</strong> underlying infrastructure.While <strong>the</strong>re are no simple or short-term fixes <strong>to</strong> make thisa reality, in <strong>the</strong> following chapters, <strong>the</strong> Task Force sets outways <strong>to</strong> direct investment and development over <strong>the</strong> nextthree years.3. The National Archives’ Learning Curve is an on-line teaching resource,structured <strong>to</strong> tie in with <strong>the</strong> His<strong>to</strong>ry National Curriculum from Key Stages2 <strong>to</strong> 5. The Learning Curve contains a varied range of original sourcesincluding documents, pho<strong>to</strong>graphs, film and sound recordings.www.learningcurve.pro.gov.uk21
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