We hope that this research will give us – and our sector as a whole – the opportunity to make clear another aspect of the value of museums, libraries and archives to local communities.

One important output will be a strong and simple case for the value of the sector to business. For example, we’d like the economic development units of local authorities to really understand the value of our sector to innovation and creativity in local businesses. We’d like to find and share good ideas about connecting with businesses that are currently less aware of what’s on offer. We’d like businesses to understand that the sector is valuable to them and individuals to become more aware of the sources of inspiration available to them.

We also hope that this enquiry will lead to additional funding from the London Development Agency (who are funding this research) for pilot projects that will develop some of the areas of good practice that we find, and perhaps test some completely new ideas which come to us through this first enquiry phase.

How will it work?

We begin very broadly, collecting snippets of information, experience and evidence from as many people as possible through email, survey responses, desk research, telephone interview and face to face meetings. As we go along, we will collate and analyse testimony, going back to people to ask more questions, or ask for reactions as our lines of enquiry become clearer. We will pull out quantitative information to look at trends across regions and disciplines. We will draw together qualitative and anecdotal material into a coherent statement of the activity and experience of the sector.

How can you help?

The quality of this research depends on us hearing as many stories and personal experiences as we can, so the most useful thing you can do is to sign up and share your point of view. We’ll also be distributing forms and flyers, visiting groups to conduct short gathering exercises and encouraging people take the cards away, share them with colleagues and customers and get them involved too. There will be downloadable materials to support logging and gathering, handouts to explain what’s going on and postcards you can give to everyone.

In short, we’d like to have a conversation with you, and others in your networks, and we would like to support you in a lively discussion among yourselves about what could and should be done. The investigation will last for three months and finish on January 10th with a day-long conference, so please sign up now and help us to communicate the importance of your work.