Report
of the MLA funded Implementation Project
by the Archives in Museums Subject Specialist Network
The Archives in Museums Subject Specialist Network (AiM SSN) completed
its programme of training sessions, held across the country, in July 2008. The
evaluation is now complete and is reported here.
The mission of the AiM SSN is to help make archives within museums more
accessible, by training those who work with these collections. The training
delivered over the last year aimed to give museum staff and volunteers the
confidence and skills to care for, exhibit and make these collections generally
available to the public (both physically and intellectually).
Background
The background to the establishment of the network is the ‘Understanding
Archives in the South East’ report, 2005, which highlighted the need to
increase awareness of archival principles and practices amongst those
working outside the core archive community. Significantly, it found that
‘Museums represent by some margin the largest group of archival institutions
in the region, and also the most diverse’. This demand has also been
substantiated by similar reports from other English regions.
This report, alongside the success of a Sharing Skills Archives in Museums
project run in the South East between October 2005 and May 2008, through
Renaissance, led to the establishment of the AiM SSN, with the help of a
grant from MLA, at the end of 2006.
Training Sessions
Some previous training of this kind has been provided but in a sporadic and
geographically limited way. This project planned to organise one training
session in each of the English regions (as defined by MLA), Wales and
Scotland, totalling 11 sessions.
The sessions covered the basics of archive training. It did not seek to deliver
all the necessary skills in one day but rather to raise issues and provoke
thought as to the differences between archives and artefacts, and to cover the
most important areas, to ensure that the collections would survive and could
be used.
Each training day consisted of a core five elements:
 What are Archives and How do Museums manage them?;
 Physical Care of Collections;
 Use of and Access to collections;
 Case Study;
 Museum tour or Group work and discussion.
A total of 217 delegates attended the training sessions across England and
Wales.
A number of regions which were offered a training session, felt they needed
another as their regions were so geographically diverse. MLA South West and
MLA North West have funded second sessions out of their own budget and in
Wales, CyMAL encouraged going for a grant to fund a second session. MLA
London are also interested in developing the programme as training for
Community Archives.
Each training day had a case study provided by a practitioner from that region
that illustrated some very practical recent approach to managing or using
archive collections within a museum. Case studies were as follows:
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East of England – Wisbech and Fenland Museum;
Wales – Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh, Brecon;
West Midlands – Kidderminster Railway Museum;
NW (1) - Greater Manchester Police Museum;
East Midlands – Nottingham City Museum;
SW (1) – Allhallows, Museum, Honiton;
SW (2) – Tank Museum, Bovington;
NW (2) – King’s Own Museum, Lancaster;
SE – Amersham Museum;
London – Post Office Museum and archive;
Yorkshire – Burton Constable Hall.
Training Pack
The training pack was compiled to compliment the sessions, and developed
alongside them. The pack covered the first three subject areas: What are
Archives?; Physical Care of Collections; Access and Use.
The training pack was used to expand on various issues, and to point to
further information on the web and in other publications and organisations.
The training pack has had wider appeal that just this project. It has been
passed to the National Council for Archives in conjunction with their work with
Community Archives, it has been sent to a number of museums who couldn’t
attend the training session, and the AiM SSN is currently looking into the
possibility of using the training pack in conjunction with the Collections Trust’s
training programme.
Evaluation
For each of the training sessions that was run, an evaluation form was
distributed to delegates to complete before they left for the day. 126 out of
217 delegates completed these forms (58%)
Training Sessions:
73% of respondents felt that the sessions were ‘useful and interesting’ or ‘very
useful’, with another 20% stating that they were useful. Amongst the sessions,
the one which appeared most useful was that on the Physical Care of
Archives with 79% finding this session ‘useful and interesting’ or ‘very useful’,
followed closely by Using Archives.
The responses relating to the trainer were very positive, with 84.5% of
respondents rating his subject knowledge, response to questions, helpfulness,
motivation and preservation skills as very good or excellent, with another
14.5% rating these skills as good.
Generally, everyone believed that the aims of the training day were clearly
defined (99%) and achieved (98%).
Comments which were typical of those received are as follows:
“Very useful indeed. Would like to attend further days like this
– also other staff who have less of an immediate archive role.”
“An interesting day – useful as an introduction to what an
archive is rather than a museum collection.”
Training Packs:
An evaluation form was sent out with the additional training packs, with 17
responses being received.
All respondents (100%) found the pack useful or very useful, with all also
stating that they thought it was also useful for those who had not attended the
course.
Some comments received include:
“Work of the SSN is much appreciated.”
“The packs demonstrate an informed and practical knowledge
of archives and museums.”
“…your training pack is succinct, comprehensive and very
easy to access”
“It provides an overview for archive management. Staff can
quickly find information they need.”
The training pack which has been produced as part of this project will have a
lasting use and is to be made available electronically via Collections Link.