The North West Museums, Libraries and

Archives Council emerges !

On the 29^th November 2002 the membership of the North West Museums Service (NWMS) voted to accept a new constitution that would lead to the establishment of the North West Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (NWMLAC). This move was the legal and financial means of creating the new cross domain regional agency which has been planned for the last few years.

The new board of NWMLAC met for the first time at the start of December and currently consists of 3 representatives from each domain. The 3 archive representatives, Jim Grisenthwaite (chair NWRAC and Cumbria County Council), John Hodgson (John Rylands Library) and Bruce Jackson (secretary NWRAC and Lancashire Record Office) were nominated by NWRAC. 6 further board members, to bring specialist skills such as financial, business or legal knowledge will be recruited by open advertisement in 2003. The board is currently meeting on a monthly basis to plan the work of the new agency. Initially the board will concentrate on the recruitment of a Chief Executive for NWMLAC and on the production of the 3 year business plan.

Archival activity at a regional level in the North West has changed rapidly in the last few years and with the development of NWMLAC, the next few years promises to be equally as important. There is much work to be undertaken to develop the new agency into an organisation that can provide innovative services, strategic leadership, advocacy, information and support, to over 160 registered museums, 500 major library service points and 40 major archives. The aim is to maximise the sector’s contribution to the North West’s distinctive cultural, social, educational and economic life and identity. NWRAC & NWMLAC look forward to working with you all to achieve this.