Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Encyclopedia
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is a non-departmental public body
in England
and a registered charity with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museum
s, libraries
and archive
s. It has functions that span the UK and it advises the UK government on policy and priorities for these areas in England
, and receives funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
(DCMS). The Chairman is Sir Andrew Motion
(lately Poet Laureate
) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Roy Clare
CBE.
On July 26 2010 it was announced that the MLA would be abolished under new proposals put forward by the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to cut the number of public bodies the government funds.
In 2003 the MLA was a stakeholder in the Framework for the Future report that set out a vision for the future of public libraries in England. In 2008, working with The National Archives, the MLA developed a consultation document on "21st Century Archives". In 2009 the MLA published "Leading Museums" a vision and action plan for museums.
The MLA took over the running of the "Designation Scheme", which began in 1997 under the auspices of the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC). It was expanded in 2005 to include archives and libraries as well as museums that had pre-eminent collections of national or international importance held outside of national institutions. 135 collections had been awarded Designated status by 2011.
After the abolition of the MLA in 2011/2012 the Designation Scheme is to be taken over by Arts Council England (ACE)).
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and a registered charity with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s, libraries
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
s. It has functions that span the UK and it advises the UK government on policy and priorities for these areas in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and receives funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
(DCMS). The Chairman is Sir Andrew Motion
Andrew Motion
Sir Andrew Motion, FRSL is an English poet, novelist and biographer, who presided as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009.- Life and career :...
(lately Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Roy Clare
Roy Clare
Roy Alexander George Clare was Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 2007-2011...
CBE.
On July 26 2010 it was announced that the MLA would be abolished under new proposals put forward by the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to cut the number of public bodies the government funds.
History
The MLA was originally established as the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries in 1931. It was set up following the recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries, produced in 1929. The Standing Commission was renamed the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) in September 1981 and given additional responsibilities. The MGA was a registered charity and incorporated under a Royal Charter on 1 January 1987. In April 2000, the MGA and the Library and Information Commission were combined into Re:source which was later renamed the MLA Council. The MLA is represented in London by MLA London, a separate charity that receives core funding from the MLA.In 2003 the MLA was a stakeholder in the Framework for the Future report that set out a vision for the future of public libraries in England. In 2008, working with The National Archives, the MLA developed a consultation document on "21st Century Archives". In 2009 the MLA published "Leading Museums" a vision and action plan for museums.
The MLA took over the running of the "Designation Scheme", which began in 1997 under the auspices of the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC). It was expanded in 2005 to include archives and libraries as well as museums that had pre-eminent collections of national or international importance held outside of national institutions. 135 collections had been awarded Designated status by 2011.
After the abolition of the MLA in 2011/2012 the Designation Scheme is to be taken over by Arts Council England (ACE)).