TNA Survey of Record Offices

The National Archives carries out a survey at intervals which assesses all record repositories in England and Wales against a number of criteria, grouped into categories.  Each repository completes a very detailed self-assessment questionnaire, and the results are collated centrally. 

 

This table shows the results for Bath Record Office for 2008, with the 2007 results given in brackets.

  Score for your service Average score in South West region Average score of unitary council services Average score in the UK
Section 1: governance 45% (39.5%) 69.5% (68%) 57% (58.5%) 62.0% (64.0%)
Section 2: documentation of collections 34.5% (30.5%) 63.5% (63.5%) 56.5% (57%) 59.0% (57.0%)
Section 3: access and outreach services 36% (36%) 57.5% (53.5%) 48.5% (45.5%) 57.0% (52.5%)
Section 4: preservation and conservation 39.5% (26.5%) 72% (67.5%) 60.5% (57.5%) 65.0% (62.0%)
Section 5: buildings, security and environment 50% (45%) 69.5% (63.5%) 57% (54%) 64.5% (60.5%)
Overall score 41.5% (37%) (65%) (61.5%) 54.5% (53%) 61.0% (58.0%)

 

 

The relatively low scores for the Bath Record Office reflect the limitations of its accommodation and the low level of its staffing compared to other similar offices. However, there was improvement in almost all areas between 2007 and 2008.

 

You can find out more about the National Archives self-assessment survey by following this link to the National Archives website.