How many of you have had the pleasure of receiving the excellent help of Murdo MacDonald, Argyll's Archivist at Lochgilphead? After decades of renowned service, Murdo is retiring in March and the Argyll & Bute Council does not plan to have a full time archivist afterwards. Murdo was contacted for his input: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ann Galliard" <anngalliard@btinternet.com> To: <SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 5:31 AM Subject: [ARGYLL] Murdo and the Archives I have just spoken to the man himself, and I am even MORE disgusted with Argyll & Bute Council. Murdo was never consulted about what is proposed, and did not know about the current wave of support and compliments about the service he has provided. Murdo feels angry, upset and totally "slapped in the face" - its as though no value at all was placed on his efforts over the years, and that he was being told a part time, unqualified person could take over his work. He was greatly uplifted when I told him what is going on, and I would encourage people to write directly to thank him for any help he has given. I did ask if I could let everyone know his feelings, and Murdo agreed, but obviously found it difficult to express just how angry he is. Disgusted, furious, annoyed, angry and upset are just a few of the words this very polite and gentle man used. I hope all the letters are having some effect on this dreadful council, and the fact that the news is now in the public domain will attract more complaints! Ann Galliard Members of the Argyll list have started a letter/email campaign to try to get the Council to reconsider their short sighted intentions. Your participation is needed. If you want to write, here are some addresses: "McLellan, James" Chief Executive <James.McLellan@argyll-bute.gov.uk> "Stewart, Nigel" <Nigel.Stewart@argyll-bute.gov.uk>; "Reppke, Charles" <Charles.Reppke@argyll-bute.gov.uk> The following is a sampling from other lists and newspapers: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=13977167&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch ARGYLL MAY AXE GENEALOGY EXPERT 07 February 2006 > > Plans to axe the full-time archivist's post at Argyll and Bute > Council have been branded a false economy. > > The council will decide at its budget meeting on Thursday whether to > replace present archivist Murdo MacDonald when he retires at the end of > next month. > > The proposal centres on leaving the archivist's post unfilled to save > £30,000 and manage the service by allocating another member of staff to > archive work just five days a fortnight. > > The planned reduction is part of £9.3million of proposed service cuts > that are needed to balance the council's books, alongside a proposed > council tax increase of 4.92%, for the new financial year. > > But at a time when interest in ancestral tourism is booming a cut to > the archive services is seen by many as a false economy as it attracts > visitors to the area. > > Mr MacDonald, who has worked for the council and its predecessor > Argyll and Bute District Council for 30 years, says he is dealing with > inquiries from all over the world. > > He said: "We have got all kinds of records here dating back to the > 17th century and we get inquiries from all over the world. E-mails and the > internet have caused a huge increase in interest in the archives. > > Mull Museum chairman Olive Brown said: ""Ancestral tourism is a big > thing now. If Argyll and Bute Council does not have an archivist, who is > going to look after all the precious records that are held at Kilmory?" > Councillor Robin Currie said: "The archivist is an important service and > it will be a great loss, especially in Argyll with our history, because > there is so much interest from all over the world from people trying to > trace their roots." ___________________________ http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=13977167&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearchMSP IN PLEA TO SAVE COUNCIL ARCHIVIST MOIRA KERR 08 February 2006 Politician Jim Mather is urging Argyll and Bute Council to ditchcost-cutting proposals which would see its full-time archivist positionscrapped when the present postholder retires next month. The Press and Journal reported yesterday that the £30,000 saving, fromnot replacing archivist Murdo MacDonald, is part of £9.3million of proposedcuts which will be discussed at the council's budget meeting tomorrow. The proposal being put before councillors is that an existing memberof council staff could be allocated to do archive work just five days afortnight, instead of employing a full time specialist. Mr Mather, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said the suggested cutwas "an indication of the council's desperate fin! ancial position". He said he agreed that the council was not being given fair oradequate funding, from the Scottish Executive, to pay for services in anarea which has so many remote and island communities. But Mr Mather added: "That said, I agree with those who have statedtheir disquiet at the proposal not to appoint an archivist when MurdoMacDonald retires. "This is an important post in any council and of particularsignificance in Argyll and Bute because of the growth in interest fromaround the world in the records that are maintained here." ....................... As Chair of the Lochaber and North Argyll Family History Group Iam apalled at Argyll and Bute's short sightedness with regards to theburgeoning interest world- wide in Family History. Murdo has provided auseful link/resource when enquiries have been received from our 'Cousins' inthe former Colonies. Don't A&B realise that Genealogical Tourism is a moneyspinner!! Les Horn! , Onich Inverness-shire ______________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: Ian Hill To: peter.galliard@btinternet.com Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 5:50 PM Subject: Argyll and Bute Council Dear Mrs Galliard I am replying to your email of 6 February concerning Argyll and ButeCouncil Archives on behalf of NAS, as the Keeper has a statutory role in theway that local authorities manage their records. More specifically,section 53 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 states that localauthorities should make 'proper arrangements' for their records', should not makeany 'material changes' to their arrangements without consulting the Keeperand should have regard to any comments he (or she) makes. But as 'proper arrangements' have no statutory definition, thesepowers fall short of being able to compel a local authority to operate aprofessional archives service. In general terms, there is no act in Scotland thatobliges local authorities to run! an archives service in this way and access is therefore at the discretion of the authority concerned. In terms of the Freedom of Information Act, the ability of localarchives to be classified as 'reasonably obtainable' under sec 25 of the Act may diminish if professional supervision is not available and accessrights are reduced, and the records are therefore less likely to be exempt from requests under sec 1. NAS has been in touch with the Council about the situation in Argyll.The Keeper wrote to the Chief Executive at the end of January asking for assurances about Mr MacDonald's post and I also contacted his officethis week to point out their duty to consult the Keeper in terms of sec 53of the 1994 Act. We are still waiting to hear back from the Council and do need to be officially told what they are planning to do but please be assuredthat we shall continue to monitor the situation in Argyll and do all! that wecan to promote the continuation of the service. Your s sincerely Ian Hill Head of Outreach Services Branch National Archives of Scotland (0131-535 1372)