1. Collaborating across the UK- the work of ALMA Jane Robinson ALMA Co-ordinator

2. Today’s session covers: About ALMA Working in strategic partnership Collaborative activities Focus on the ROI in libraries project Collaborating – lessons learned Any questions?

3. ALMA is: A cross-nation, cross domain partnership, dedicated to enhancing the public value of archives libraries and museums A voluntary partnership between strategic bodies in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland

4. Membership: England Arts Council England The National Archives Northern Ireland Libraries NI Public Records Office of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Museums Council Ireland Local Government Management Agency Scotland Scottish Library and Information Council Museums Galleries Scotland Scottish Council on Archives Wales CyMAL : Museums Libraries and Archives Wales

5. Working in strategic partnership: Neutral forum Leaders and senior staff engaging in regular roundtable discussion Equal partnership and voice Exchanging sector intelligence Adding value to strategic practice Joint projects

6. Exchanging sector intelligence: International opportunities Sector standards Legislative change Strategies Sector skills Examples of good practice

7. Collaborative Activities: Leadership Development project Evidence gathering exercise Workforce Development sub-group Key findings – – Range of development opportunities – Importance of succession planning – Role for standards and skills frameworks

8. Collaborative Activities: Economic Impact project Initial research commissioned 2010 from ERS Scoped existing approaches Analysed available toolkits Consulted stakeholders Reviewed pros and cons of approaches used Recommended suitable approaches for museums archives and libraries

9. Economic impact research findings Published report 2011 : http://almauk.org/working- together/our_activity/economic-impacts/http://almauk.org/working- together/our_activity/economic-impacts/ Identified: What evidence relevant to economic impact studies is already collected Feasibility of obtaining other information needed for a toolkit The form of toolkit most suitable for completion Concluded: Multiplier analysis methodology for museums and archives Return on investment/ economic value methodology for libraries

10. Economic impact toolkit for museums and archives Designed to enable archives and museums estimate their impacts on the local economy Toolkit in 4 sections: 1.Organisational background and procurement details 2.Expenditure on employees (salary costs) 3.Visitor related impacts 4.Overall impacts derived from the aboveToolkit includes workbook, guidance and aggregator template Toolkit includes workbook, guidance and aggregator spreadsheet Published 2011: http://almauk.org/working- together/our_activity/economic-impacts/http://almauk.org/working- together/our_activity/economic-impacts/

11. Project focus: Return on investment in libraries Work in progress – commissioned 2013, ERS Based on a survey piloted in 2012 Commissioned 2013 from ERS Partners - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Country reports and toolkit due for publication soon (early 2014?)

12. Libraries survey 2013 - approach Undertaken June-July 2013 50 libraries in 11 Local Authorities in Scotland; 25 libraries in 8 Local Authorities in Wales; and 8 libraries in Northern Ireland Randomly selected User surveys in libraries combined with data collection at service level 4009 surveys completed and analysed across the 3 nations

13. Libraries’ toolkit collects evidence of: User Investment - the cost to individuals of using the services; Community Benefits - the spending with local service providers; Cost of Alternatives - money saved by using the library; Employment effects - as a result of staff wages and their spending; and Supply chain effects - the value of library spending on goods and services. Report due SOON!

14. Partnership and Collaboration: lessons learned Shared ethos and values Realistic expectations Regular meetings Co-ordination Relevant and timely projects, clearly defined Delegation to working groups Regular review

15. Any questions? http://almauk.org/