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  • 05-09-2006 5:11pm
    #1
    BessBoy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 47 ✭


    Interestign story in the indo monday. and followed up on the radio by Will Faukner.
    Are they closing the service or what? Dont they have a legal obligation to have an archive...or is that the library?

    Concern as midland counties' archivist job is axed
    Monday September 4th 2006
    SERIOUS concerns have been raised for the country's historic treasures after it emerged that Laois and Offaly county councils' only archivist job is being axed this week.
    As the local authorities advertise busy schedules during Heritage Week, the future management of their historic collections is hanging in the balance behind the scenes. The only archivist for the two midland counties, Mary Fitzpatrick, has been told that her job will end next week.
    Louth Co Council also said it does not plan to hire another archivist.
    Ironically, the council went ahead with a Heritage Week workshop hosted by Ms Fitzpatrick on caring for family records last weekend.
    News of her imminent departure comes not long after the Irish Independent revealed some of the country's archival collections are being eaten by rats.
    Many counties do not have archivists to manage their collections, while in many large areas archivists are shared by up to three counties.
    Last night, the Society of Archivists and the Local Authority Archivists' Group said the decision to end Laois and Offaly's archive and record management services was a "huge setback". "These archives have provided open and accountable local government by improving access to the records of
    local authorities," said the Society of Archivists' chairwoman, Leah Benson.
    "Accountable record keeping is the essence of democracy.
    "Archivists and records managers are key players in ensuring the integrity of the record," she said.
    Anne-Marie Walsh


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