[ Records and Information Management | Outreach and Promotion | Education
| Conservation and Preservation | Searcher Services ]

 

Records and Information Management

As well as managing the county's historic records, Ayrshire Archives is responsible for the current records, regardless of media or form, which the local authorities produce in the course of their everyday business. It aims to ensure that records which are retained for legal reasons are kept only as long as is necessary, while those intended for administrative purposes are readily available. Records of historical importance are also identified and retained permanently as archives. As a result, Ayrshire Archives is involved in all aspects of records management such as surveying departments, drawing up retention schedules, storing and retrieving records for departments and appraisal. Records management provides organizations with real, measurable benefits and enables compliance with legislation. Records are responsibly stored in our record storage areas.

Outreach and Promotion

In order to publicise the service, the staff of Ayrshire Archives frequently give talks to local societies. Visits from school parties and colleges can also be arranged through one of the Archivists. The Centre endeavours to make its holdings more widely known to the public by staging regular exhibitions.

Education

Archival resources can be used to dynamic effect in the teaching of history and other related subjects.

Our archives demonstrate the influence of national and international events on our communities and can be used in a variety of situations to introduce students to the marvellous archival heritage of their own locality. We welcome the opportunity to forge links with teachers and students and can offer a service that is tailored to their requirements.

Please contact Ayrshire Archives for further details

Conservation and Preservation

'The skills and efforts of volunteers play an important role in preservation projects. Here, voluteers and the Assistant Archivist place Ayr Burgh Records in preservation media'.

The records held in the Ayrshire Archives Centre are a unique and irreplaceable part of our heritage. Therefore, great care is taken to ensure that their condition does not deteriorate. For many records this can be achieved by careful handling and storage in environmentally controlled strongrooms as outlined in our Preservation Policy. However, much more attention is required for records created on poor quality paper, for example, or in cases where they have been neglected or abused. In such circumstances conservation measures must be taken to ensure that damage is repaired and the likelihood of further deterioration is reduced to a minimum. As the Centre does not have an in-house unit, such work is carried out by a professional Conservator.

Searcher Services

In addition to consulting documents in the searchroom, an enquiry service is in operation. There is a rate for this service. Users are requested to fill in an Enquiry Form detailing the records to be searched. A number of finding aids have been introduced and developed to improve user access and understanding. These include the development of a computerised index and a number of Information Sheets relating to particular record types, such as 'The Commissioners of Supply'.
Information Sheets

The Information Sheet Series is designed to introduce readers to the main record collections held by Ayrshire Archives and the various bodies who created them.

 

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