News from Resource

Program: electronic library and information systems

ISSN: 0033-0337

Article publication date: 1 June 2004

36

Citation

(2004), "News from Resource", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 38 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prog.2004.28038bab.006

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


News from Resource

News from Resource

Access to Archives (A2A) the online programme which enables people to search and browse information about archives across England, has been awarded further funding of £25,000 from Resource. This will be used by institutions holding archives to enable catalogues to go online and so will help provide access to England’s archive resources, opening up new worlds of knowledge. A2A enables searchers to access information about records dating from the 900s to the present.

A2A is the English strand in the UK archives network, its database contains the electronic equivalent of over 400,000 catalogue pages describing archives in England in national, local and specialist repositories. This programme will make a further 300,000 catalogue pages available on the Web. A2A aims to create a virtual national archives catalogue for England and make it available from one source via the Web. The historical records covered by A2A are of national and local importance.

A2A stands alongside sister archives network projects in Scotland, Wales and the higher education sector, which are working together to ensure that a single search on a single Web site will open up archives to the general public in England, the UK and worldwide. A2A enables a variety of archive repositories (including those that are small-scale and less well resources) to benefit from the expertise in retroconversion built up by The National Archives (Public Record Office), and to make catalogues known to a far larger audience than would be possible if acting alone. The National Council on Archives brings together the major organisations concerned with the care, custody and use of archives. The National Archives was launched in April 2003, and brings together two existing organisations, the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission.

For further information please contact: Resource, 16 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AA, UK. Tel:+44(0) 20 7273 1444; Fax:+44(0) 20 7273 1404; E-mail: info@resource.gov.uk; URL: www.resource.gov.uk

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