National Archives of Ireland Frances Mc Gee

National Archives of Ireland Frances Mc. Gee

Amalgamation proposal • In November 2011 a government paper proposed amalgamating the National Archives and National Library • Still awaiting final decision • 6 th serious proposal to amalgamate the 2 institutions • Needs to be seen in the context of earlier proposals and the sad past of Irish archives

National Archives of Ireland established in 1986 from two existing archival institutions State Paper Office, Dublin Castle, set up in 1702 to house archives of central administration Public Record Office of Ireland, Four Courts, established by Act of 1867

• For 50 years after 1867, Irish archives from 13 th century collected in new PROI building beside law courts in Dublin • Important institution at centre of management and use of public archives

Destroyed during civil war in June 1922 Four Courts complex on fire after bombardment Outer wall of PROI repository building after the fire

1922 as defining event • Difficult to overstate significance of catastrophe of 1922 on the development of archival policy • Archives were destroyed • Status and role of the PROI in public consciousness were also lost • Staff dispersed: only 2 members of professional staff, head position downgraded and not filled until 1956

6 decades: no development • New Irish State conscious of value of archives but unsure • Building rebuilt and PROI continued to function • Vacuum: other institutions came to the fore • Solution: amalgamation with the National Library, 1930 s - 1960 s • National Library active in later proposals • Real catalyst of change: 30 year rule in UK from 1967 and trend elsewhere

1986 National Archives Act: new beginning • 1986 Act, standard modern legislation: to preserve and make available the archival heritage of the state • National Archives expanded, moved to new premises, began to fulfil meaningful role • New building did not materialise

National Library Photograph courtesy of National Library of Ireland

National Library • Set up in 1877 based on an existing collection and since 1997, operates as an autonomous body under a Board of Management • Larger than the National Archives with double the staff, more readers and smaller buildings • Fortuitously located beside building which became the national parliament, on a street where several ministries have their headquarters • Separate buildings, 1 km distance • Excellent relationship with National Archives

New climate • Economic collapse from 2007 • December 2010 Ireland in a financial rescue programme: commitments to reduce government spending • February 2011 election: change of government and new minister • Government policy: public service reform

2008 amalgamation proposal • October 2008, announcement that the National Archives and the Irish Manuscripts Commission would be merged into the National Library • No consultation with the bodies concerned • Certain amount of public controversy and ‘Save the Archives’ campaign • Director of the National Archives made his views known • Heads of a Bill, the first step in changing the law, were drafted, but did not proceed further

2011 amalgamation proposal • Included in Government policy document in November 2011: rationalisation of 48 bodies to be examined, with the aim of making government ‘more transparent, accountable and efficient’ • Discussion but no policy developed • No explanation of rationale behind proposal • No legislation • No official cost benefit analysis • Unfortunate timing: - National Archives without Director - Director of NL 3 year contract due to expire early 2013

Difficulties • Genuine but not insuperable difficulties: legal functions, civil servant status of staff, financial and administrative arrangements • Legislation required • Accommodation and resources issues in 2 institutions: no possibility of joint accommodation without major new building • Proposal against a background of making savings, although denied • In other cases, Canada and New Zealand, amalgamations COST money

Public reaction • Critical reaction from specialised areas, the NAAC, the Council of the National Cultural Institutions and trade unions • Little at first: 1 letter in newspaper • Newspaper articles by public intellectuals • In May, controversy ignited by resignation of historian from the board of the National Library • Further letters and articles in newspapers, discussed on radio and TV

Political reaction • Followed public reaction • Large number of parliamentary questions • Debates in the 2 houses of parliament in June and July: Minister criticised strongly by opposition and members of his coalition partner’s party • Only public controversy in 48 proposed amalgamations concerned the archives/library and galleries

Why not amalgamate? • Benefits from larger institution: profile, resources, economy of scale and flexibility • Similarities at practical level, why duplicate? – Operations: acquisition and preservation of paper or digital materials and making them available – Staff: professional, technical and administrative – Premises: public, storage, technical and staff areas – Public use of reading room: registration, security, no borrowing, copying etc – Specialised services: conservation, digitisation

Why not collaborate? • Already in place in relation to specific projects • Further shared services proposed • Online use undifferentiated: origin, custody and professional concerns of no interest to users • High expectations of access to seamless information • Digital convergence, the memory institution and the blurring of institutional boundaries

How to do this? • How can core functions of custodianship of archives be protected except in separate institution? • Unique identity of institution closely identified with core functions • Collaboration without loss of identity

Managing change • Is this really an existential crisis for Irish archives or is it no more than an idea put forward in an economic recession? • Not always possible to oppose change • Change needs to be seen as an improvement, there needs to be SOMETHING TO LIKE • Self-interest v public good: difficult for staff

Shadow of 1922 • National Archives has only just recovered from tragic past • Dividends are starting to show • long, slow work on government archives • high-profile projects such as the digitisation of the Census • Amalgamation now would be the parallel of 1922, and would destroy the status and work done over recent years

What happens now? • Government decision awaited • Old model has served well: fundamental function as impartial and autonomous guardian of the archives of the state • New amalgamated model needs to be defined, to be convincing and to hold promise of improvement • New thinking, difficult in climate of uncertainty • Collaboration is our preferred future

Thank you