Agenda item

A Presentation from the Director of the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA).

Members received a presentation from the Director of the LMA in respect of the new Archives Catalogue and received an update on how the Department was meeting its Business Plan objectives.

During the discussion and questions, the following points were raised/noted:

•           There were still some uncatalogued collections and longer-term objectives for improving access to the collections.

•           The LMA received around 50,000 physical visitors per annum, including individual researchers and school groups, with online visitors predominantly from the UK and USA. of circa 2 million 

•           Approximately 5% of the collection has been digitised (with some 22 million views annually) which is in line, with that achieved by the British Library and The National Archives, and Members recognised that this was a very large job.  The base cost of digitisation was significant, with the majority done so far had been achieved through a commercial agreement. 

•           The LMA provided a record keeping service for City of London Corporation Departments in Guildhall as well as offering advice on record keeping to the whole organisation. 

•           While charging for access to LMA was not under consideration for several reasons, and was not in place for any local authority archive service in the UK or at The National Archives, there were many opportunities for income generation which were being pursued, including the storage of archives and provision of access for other institutions e.g. the Royal College of Surgeons while they are refurbishing their premises at Lincoln’s Inn Fields.  Members noted that providing this, and similar services, would generate more income than charging for access. 

•           The LMA worked with The National Archives, the British Library and colleagues in other London Boroughs to share good practice and achieve economies of scale.  The LMA were also mindful that some archiving organisations were struggling financially and the LMA could provide an alternative store for their collections, providing a suitable funding package could be agreed.

•           Members noted that there were 17 years remaining on the current lease of LMA’s existing site in Clerkenwell and all options for its future location were being considered, including any potential for working more closely with the Museum of London and its relocation project Members noted that, as the future of archiving changed and became more digitally based, there would be less need for an archive to occupy just one site.

In concluding, the Chairman and Members thanked the LMA for an interesting and insightful presentation.