An archives and records management research network (ARMReN) for the UK Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

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An archives and records management research
network (ARMReN) for the UKFunded by the Arts
and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

• Dr Elizabeth Shepherd
• School of Library, Archive and Information
  Studies
• University College London
• e.shepherd_at_ucl.ac.uk

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Archives and Records Management Research Network
(ARMReN)

• What is ARMReN for?
• help develop research in the discipline of
  archives and records management
• link academics in archives and records management
  with researchers who use archives and
  professionals who manage records
• collect and disseminate information about
  research
• foster the development of new academic
  researchers in the discipline
• act as a central point for the exchange of ideas
• encourage new collaborative partnerships (UK,
  Europe, internationally)

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Archives and Records Management Research Network
(ARMReN)

• What is ARMReN doing?
• created a website, including information
  resources http//www.ucl.ac.uk/slais/research/arm
  ren/
• organised three one-day research workshops
  Appraisal and collecting Description Access and
  impact
• run a short series of Archives and History
  seminars at the Institute of Historical Research,
  University of London
• disseminate results through conference papers and
  a journal article

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The role of research

• builds theories and models as frameworks for
  practice
• develops knowledge base, understanding of
  professions ethos and societal role
• promotes critical enquiry and analysis, allows
  sophisticated articulation of concepts
• facilitates standardisation, planning
  evaluation
• examines policy development execution
• practitioner research

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Practice versus research

• Terry Cook (University of Manitoba, Canada)
• discipline v profession
• theory v practice
• education v training
• new digital recordkeeping approaches v
  traditional cultural heritage priorities
• Sarah McNicol quoting Booth
• research-practice gap

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Framework for sustainability in research

• A shared understanding
• Setting strategic research priorities
• Funding streams
• Critical mass
• Research collaboration
• Identifying gaps and building depth
• Improved dissemination

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An archives and records management research
network (ARMReN) for the UK

• See the web site at http//www.ucl.ac.uk/slais/re
  search/armren/
• Dr Elizabeth Shepherd
• e.shepherd_at_ucl.ac.uk