Plans to reduce running costs could result in job losses (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
Contact us: Got a photo? Text 'SLPICS' to 80360. Got a story? Call the newsdesk: 020 8744 4260
Plans to reduce running costs could result in job losses
4:50pm Wednesday 1st July 2009 in
Jobs could be axed at Kew’s National Archives because of a surge in users wanting to look at documents online, it emerged this week.
Bosses at the archives announced they were considering closing the Kew reading room to users on Mondays, effectively cutting the service down from six to five days a week.
The move has been suggested to help reduce running costs and bolster finances in response to the growth in demand from online customers, who now account for more than 90 per cent of the centre’s usage.
A spokeswoman for the archives said it was too early to speculate how many people might be affected but explained: “We won’t need as many staff to cover those five days - it will impact on staff in some way.
“We are doing everything we can to avoid any compulsory redundancies.”
In addition to reading room opening hour changes a proposal to charge visitors to park in the site’s car park has also been put forward.
Chief executive at the archives, Natalie Ceeney said: “We believe this approach will keep the National Archives world-class and will continue to secure access to our unique collection for generations to come.”
Staff and trade unions were informed of the details on Monday and will now enter into consultation over the next couple of months.
A meeting in which the public can voice their opinions over the proposed changes is being held on Saturday, July 11, at 10am in the Talks Room, First Floor Reading Room.
Bosses expect the changes will be implemented from early September 2009.
The first public consultation discussion took place yesterday.
What do you think of the proposed changes? Have your say at rttimes.co.uk
Comments(2)
JasonH
says...
2:50pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Despite the assertion that there has been a "surge in users wanting to look at documents on line", I have certainly not noticed a corresponding reduction in visitors on-site.
In fact I have just returned from the NA and there were visitors queueing for access to a computer.
If money is the issue, why not introduce an annual fee for unlimited access, and yes if necessary, charge for parking. But please do not reduce access to this wonderful institution.
More Richmond News stories
- New police counter opens in Richmond
- Charlie Butler decision delayed
- Love cosies up to Church Street, Twickenham
- Packed meeting hears proposals for Teddington Memorial Hospital
- Catwalk-strutting mums raise hundreds for cancer research
- Early action being taken to tackle homelessness in Richmond
- Murderer Bellfield denied right to appeal
- Twickenham gets hiring for National Apprentice Week
- Olympianist cycling the country with music
- Princess Alexandra visits Royal Star and Garter
Changes: Bosses at the archives are proposing service changes to bolster finances
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Second Cross says...
7:44pm Sun 5 Jul 09
As a regular visitor to Kew, and as someone who is very happy to use on-line services when appropriate, I can assure you that on-line access will in no way substitute for physical access to the site at Kew.
Very little in Britain works well, and Kew is a shining example of something that works extremely well.
The Rail Network is fit only for a third world country, the Tube System is virtually shut every weekend, Industry is non-existent, the Banks are collapsing daily and the Government becomes ever more like a Ruritanian dictatorship.
Contrast this with what must be the finest public records service in the world, where visitors, both amateur and professional, travel from all over the world to access the magnificently curatored collections at the Archive. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, the resources impressive, and the environment pleasant. Documents are always readily available and parking is almost adequate.
Please don’t damage one of the few institutions of which we as a nation can be rightly proud.