Staffordshire Archives Consultation

Staffordshire Archives Consultation (Distributed by the “Friends of Lichfield Archive & Heritage”) Q1 Post Code What is your post code

Q2. Do you currently use any of the following sites? Staffordshire Record Office

County Museum at Shugborough

William Salt Library

Find My Past website

Stoke on Trent City Archives

Staffordshire Name Index website

Lichfield Record Office Other (please specify) Burton Family & Local History Centre

Q3. Volunteering and Partnership    

We want to move towards an Active Partnership between Councils, users, depositors, partners, William Salt Library Friends and Trustees, volunteers in all areas of the service including: funding, management and delivery. We want to provide new ways to become involved in and support the service, from volunteering to fundraising. An expanded volunteer programme, included the opportunity to gain qualifications by volunteering. Developing new partnerships with other organisations. Which aspects of this would you support?

Web: www.friendslah.org.uk

Email: [email protected]

Is there anything you think we should be doing differently?

Facebook: FriendsLAH

Twitter: @friendslah

Q4. Resilience and Sustainability         

We want the service to be financially solvent and secure. We will redesign/develop buildings to provide a better, modern service. We will use fewer resources on running building-based services. We will develop a stronger programme of events in the community. We will respond to the needs of users by providing access to more archives online. We will maintain 5 Miles of Historic Records from 10th to 21st centuries and Nationally Outstanding Designated Archives We will keep all archives and special books in approved environmental conditions, some for the first time. The William Salt Library Trust will adapt its service in partnership with others. We will raise more money for the service from different sources. The WSL will continue to raise money for care of the collection. The William Salt Library Trust will find a sustainable use for the WSL town house. 

Which aspects of this would you support?


Q5. Reaching More and New People          

We will design new activities which will take our service beyond its buildings. Our buildings will be more welcoming, have good facilities and include more exhibitions and activities The service will be your focus for the history and collections of Staffordshire. We want more people to know about and explore the collections We will encourage people who have never used archives to get involved. We will digitise more collections to give people access to them online on an improved website We will use social media to reach new users and share content We will develop new programmes for schools working closely with teachers We will work with community groups to develop content that interests them We will continue to consult with and listen to local people in developing a service that meets their needs. 







Q6. In the Buildings  

We will deliver an excellent customer service We will re-focus our staff so we spend less resource on running buildings and more supporting volunteering, partnerships, activities, and online services We will retain as many of the special features of the William Salt Library as possible, whilst improving storage and collection care We will assess the future building-based needs of the service to create a long-term sustainable plan We will re-design buildings where necessary to deliver the service within this vision. The William Salt Library Trust will find a sustainable use for the WSL town house.

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Q7. Beyond the Buildings    

We will increase use of the service by improving the content, design and function of our websites We will develop new activities away from our buildings by working with partners and local communities to attract new users We will post more images and indexes online in a programme of digitisation We will plan to manage digital archives (ie. those not held on paper but in digital form only) 







8. Sharing knowledge   

We will share the knowledge we have developed with other archive and heritage services We will aim to be a national leader in providing active partnership and volunteering opportunities We will support local heritage groups by developing our Museum Development Officer work 



Q9. What is your overall feedback on this draft vision for Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive and Heritage Service?

10. Are you likely to use this service in the future? Tell us how you might use it. Would you use the Archive & Heritage Service? Which site would you use? Would you use online services? Are you interested in using the service away from the current buildings, perhaps in your local community? Would you be interested in being more involved - as a volunteer, or as a partner through a group you are involved in?



