The Archive as Leader

Challenges and Opportunities at National Archives of Solomon islands 2012

Catherine Green

Leadership • Provide authoritative advice to Government officers and

leaders on best practice in recordkeeping

• Records management training

• Developing Records Management Standards

• Monitoring and compliance of Standards – making sure agencies are implementing Standards correctly

• Preservation and Conservation of national heritage

Challenges

• Lack of financial resources

• Lack of training opportunities for staff

• Not enough staff

• Lack of formal documented records management policies and procedures

• Low profile or level of influence in government decision-making

Opportunities for projects in 2012• Appraisal of archive collection• Training for NASI staff• Support administration and governance of

NASI – including a NASI Record Plan• Records management training and support for

government Ministries• Promotional and outreach activities including

Festival of Pacific Arts and International Archives Day

Governance and Administration

• NASI governance policies

• Annual Work Plans for NASI staff

• Raise NASI profile in Government

NASI Record Plan

• Mandate from Archives Director for adoption of a Record Plan across all NASI Work Units

• Identification of functions and activities specific to NASI

• Implementation of Record Plan

• Staff training

Policies and Procedures• Framework of policies and procedures for each NASI Work

Unit and Governance activity

• Formalise the practices of each Unit• Demonstrate work that the Unit has achieved • Provide continuity when staff are on leave or are not

available• Build a professional image for the Work Unit

• Create a bank of knowledge relating to the function and activities of each Work Unit

NASI Records Management Handbook

Staff Training

Records Disposal

Support to Government agencies

• Records Management Awareness

• Site visits to Ministries

• Records Management training program for government officers - NASI partnership with Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM)

Partnerships and programs

• Island Culture Archival Support (ICAS)

• SOLMAS program: Media Assistance Scheme to Solomon Islands• Digital archiving • Research for collections database

International Archives Day 2012

Festival of Pacific Arts

Looking to the Future • Increase success of

projects through careful planning• Build and maintain and

networks• Share knowledge and

resources • Utilise the talents and

enthusiasm of staff• Look on challenges as

opportunities