2. Accreditation mission statement
“To improve the viability and the visibility
of UK archives”
•Archive services are sustainable, effectively managed,
collections are safe
•Archive services are well recognised, and meet their
communities’ needs
•To do this… archive services plan effectively for future
challenges and developments
3. About the scheme
• A UK-wide partnership to develop and deliver accreditation
• Supported by coalition of partners (ACE, ARA, ARCW, NRS,
PRONI, SCA, TNA, Welsh Government)
• Live scheme is maintained by a governing Committee from the
sector
• Supports ongoing relationships with statutory schemes like
Places of Deposit, Acceptance in Lieu
• Developed through co-creation with the sector and tested through
a pilot with 20 highly varied archive services
• Planning, Performance, Profile, Patronage, Partnerships, People
and Professionalism: what museum accreditation has supported,
according to its applicants: we want all this for archives
4. Understanding the standard
• Three modules:
- 1. Organisational Health
- 2. Collections
- 3. Stakeholders and their experience
• Requirements under each module:
- 1. Mission, governance, planning and resources (premises,
finance and workforce)
- 2. Collections management approach, policies, plans and
procedures for collections (development, information and care)
- 3. Access and engagement with the service’s identified
community
• Requirements are phrased with outcomes: explaining the why as
well as the what
5. Understanding the process
• Eligibility
• Scalability
• Application system (online)
• Guidance and case studies
• Submit responses with supporting documentation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
• Assessment by home nations assessor bodies
• Validation visits in some cases – role of peer review
• 3 annual Panels make awards
• Feedback and ongoing development
6. Understanding how to apply
• Questions
An application form which asks about how the archive service
meets the standard. Largely narrative, following pilot feedback.
Also asks for background information (not assessed).
• Evidence
Documents uploaded to support application and in some cases
shown at validation visits
• Flexibility
Format-blind in most cases. If it fulfils the function effectively for
your service, the name/format is irrelevant.
7. Understanding guidance and
support
• Guidance underpins the standard and application form
• Specific guidance for Accreditation, understanding the Standard
and ways you can respond, referencing related standards
• Scaled guidance, reflecting expectations for different types
• Tools and resources: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/accreditation
• Support available from assessor national bodies – TNA in
England
• Wider guidance for service development, from key bodies (TNA,
ARA, DPC, BL)
• Ongoing development: specialist templates and support
• Case studies: building evidence and examples
11. Module 1: Requirement 1.1 Mission statement
• The words ‘purpose’, ‘vision’ and ‘mission’ are applied variously and
often... Collectively, these terms should describe why a service or body
exists; what/where it aspires to long term; and how it plans to get
there.
• Archives Service Accreditation has chosen to use the word ‘Mission’ to
encapsulate these terms
• For the objectives of Archive Service Accreditation, ‘Mission’ is defined
as: ‘A strategic statement (or series of connected statements)
which defines the purpose and direction of the Archive Service, in
relation to the governing body it serves.’
• Archive Service Accreditation recognises that, in most cases, the
archive service is some way removed from the main business of the
organisation it serves. In these cases, the mission statement may be
defined in different layers and in more than one type of document.
• All stakeholders should be aware of the mission of the archive service
and the mission should direct decision making and activity.
12. Community
• “The concept of a community which the archive service is
constituted to serve. In this specific sense the word ‘community’
does not necessarily refer simply to the population of a political
unit or physical area (e.g. a local authority or town).
• “For many archive services the community will extend beyond the
formal boundaries of its responsible body (government,
educational institution, private or voluntary organisation).
• “The archive will probably serve multiple communities: local,
national and international; different communities of researchers
and of other types of direct and indirect users and of non-users.
• “Different elements of the community may attract different
priorities, types and levels of service. The ‘community’ to be
served is defined through the stated purpose of the archive
service.”
23. Question:
What do you (and your service) most want to
get out of working with Archive Service
Accreditation?
Tell your neighbour!
24. Messaging the benefits
• Group exercise: what messages/benefits
would resonate with your parent
organisation/reporting line?
25. Benefits of working with accreditation
• The developmental angle: Archive Service Accreditation is an
improvement process, not just a badge
• A mark of service quality, recognising the needs of archives
• Reviewing your operation: taking time to step back and think
• Effective, coherent policies and planning support your case to
core and external funders: a bank of evidence
• Requirements scaled to your mission and scope; supporting
quality, professionalism and delivery
• Evidence of external interest in your service: now and in future
• Publicity and celebration opportunities incl press/web coverage
• Peer support and ongoing professional development
• It’s free! Including all support, advice, feedback and advocacy
26. Support to sell the benefits
• Group exercise: who can help to sell the
benefits of Accreditation, and how?
• What can you do alone/in-service?
• What else would help?
• How can HEAP help?
• Accreditation programme?
• Wider sector and related bodies?
28. Over to our Accredited services!
Jeff James, CEO of The National Archives, presents Churchill
Archives Centre’s Accreditation award to the Master of Churchill
College, Dame Athene Donald
29. So (when) will you apply?
accreditation@
nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
www.nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk/acc
Some things have clearly changed in the world since the HMC standard was published, and indeed since it was last extensively reviewed in 2004. Some are obvious – role of digital has been building steadily for decades; expectations around access now go substantially beyond searchroom (but NB we recognise this may not mean public engagement depending on type of archive). There are also new and reviewed standards/guidance – PAS197 Code of Practice for Collections Management has strongly influenced shape and terminology of standard; interaction of PD5454 and PAS198 underpins expectations in collections care – they are about supporting, developing and guiding
Aim is to support development and planning across the UK and across many different types of service
Piloting included many types from large public sector bodies (PRONI, NLW), business archives (Unilever, Network rail), local authority including small and large and multi site (Southwark, Worcs, TWAM, Cumbria, Glamorgan, Falkirk, Angus), universities and specialist (Lothian Health Services, Bowes Museum, MERL/Reading Special, Exeter Cathedral, Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland)
A standard which sets out the expectation of a strong, sustainable, effective archive service in C21. The standard mirrors museum accreditation and this structure has also been used as the model for ARA’s framework of competencies. Reviewing the work of the service in three key areas