Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future

30 The Wider Digital EnvironmentWe must make quite clear why we believe that thefirst priority is access to archival records, and not theidentification of particular archival institutions. Anyoneinvolved in the creation of digital resources and servicesor using them will be well aware that searching forinformation and knowledge no longer begins with theidentification of a particular institution, whether archive,library or museum. A simple search using an internetcommercial search engine soon demonstrates the richdiversity of institutions and individuals offeringinformation, whether good, bad or indifferent.Given the wide distribution of resources that may only berelated by the needs of a particular user, an important taskof the Archives Gateway will be to focus on subject andrelevance. For the searcher new to a subject, it is only atthe point where the search is refined to a small number ofdigital objects, or collection signposts, that they may needto be aware of the institution that holds the archive, objector collection. For maximum accessibility, this practicalreality must underpin the design of Archives Gateway andwill align it within the broader development frameworkfor networked information services. It will not, of course,exclude the direct, institutional approach of thepurposive researcher.The ambition is to make easily available for the first timein one place access to collections of documents, movingimages, sound and oral history recordings, photographs,digital records, objects, books and other documentsexplaining the histories, cultures and creativity whichtogether make up the picture of the nation, past andpresent. This ambition already underpins the developmentof the Linking Arms work programme, the EnrichUKproject and most recently the work of the nationalCommon Information Environment Group in which MLAand The National Archives share membership with Higherand Further Education, the National Health Service, theBritish Library, the British Educational Communicationsand Technology Agency (Becta), The Stationery Office,Culture Online and the e-Science Core Programme. TheGateway to Archives would build on all the developmentalwork already done within the archives domain and fits intoboth the Common Information Environment Group’sproposed technical specification and its plannedoutcomes.The approach meets all the requirements we have definedfor the Archives Gateway. It is specifically intended togather resources from a variety of sources on the basis ofwhat is the best fit for the user. Thus the first-time searcherneed not know about archives generally or specifically toobtain useful information as part of a search. Mostimportantly the system makes it possible to widen therange of content and ‘sharpen’ searches much more thanconventional search engines are able to do. This meansthat it is possible to present archival resources to a rangeof existing online services and thus add value to them atmarginal cost. Examples of this might be the increasedavailability of archival information through educationalassets such as Curriculum Online or tourism services suchas VisitBritain.com. There would be mutual benefit sincewider audiences would be reached through the marketingand development activities of other service providers whilethose providers would have the richness of the archivalheritage available to them.Given the emerging umbrella framework of the CommonInformation Environment Group it is possible forinvestment in the Archives Gateway to be focused in anumber of critical areas that will bring rapid benefitsto potential users and to the archive services themselves.These areas are:• Connecting all publicly-funded archives to broadbandand providing appropriate hardware and training in useif required (could use the MLA People’s Networkdevelopment programme model)• Market studies to establish priorities for user demandand identify potential partners• Programmes to digitise archival documents focusedon popular themes and topics (could be based on theEnrichUK model)• Programmes to signpost significant collections throughappropriate description• New services, for example, learning packages for thepurposive archival resource user, learning resources