Welcome to the Autumn 2024 edition of the Heritage Hub e-newsletter.
From 28th October to 2nd December, Gloucestershire Archives, on behalf of the Heritage Hub, are holding a month-long customer survey so we can fully understand the needs of our customers. We want to know how we are doing and where we can make improvements. And we really do listen to the sensible suggestions made each year. Your ideas and contributions can make a positive difference to our Service.
We can't install a coffee shop on the premises with free cake nor lend out our reference books but we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve our website, our booking system and opportunities for help with research to make our service more accessible and enjoyable for all. Everyone is welcome at the Hub. It is also worth noting that your responses enable us to compile an annual equalities report required by both Gloucestershire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council, as part of our Public Sector Equalities Duty.
This year we are deliberately seeking your thoughts about our collections. So much of our cataloguing work is externally funded and archive services throughout the country are regularly applying for grants supported by The National Archives and/or the Heritage Lottery Fund. Consequently, in order for future funding bids to be successful, we are interested in hearing why our users specifically come here to do research. Which collections do you particularly admire and why? And in conjunction to this request, are there any types of record that you wish we held or would like us to investigate acquiring.
And finally, how are you finding our Green Pledge Project? Hopefully you are aware that Gloucestershire Archives is running the two-year Green Pledge Project (GPP) to help record the county's environmental legacy and drive forward climate action. This is such an important piece of work as it requires us all to look beyond the walls of the Hub building and assess our past, current and future impact. From a customer perspective, we have made small changes to ensure that we are a more environmentally friendly service. For example, the disposable cups for the water machine have been replaced by re-useable plastic beakers and washable tea towels have replaced the single use paper towels. Several new bins have been provided to allow us to recycle and re-use specific types of rubbish and up until recently, there was a free shop to re-purpose unwanted items. Reaction has been mixed but we’re keen to document your views and also see whether you have taken part in any events and training run by the GPP or in fact, have been inspired to undertake green based research yourself.
The customer survey will run up until 2nd December. It is available online – here and only takes about 3 minutes to complete. Alternatively, a paper version is available if you are visiting in person or don’t like reading from a screen. Thank you in advance for your participation.
And once the survey period has closed, please be aware that you don’t have to wait until next year’s survey to raise a worry or suggest an improvement. Please speak with a member of the Management Team - Helen Bartlett, Archive Access and Engagement Manager; Claire Collins, Collections Development Manager/ County Archivist and Heather Forbes, Head of Service.