" Museums, archives and libraries connect people to knowledge and information, creativity and inspiration"

ALML is a new Regional Agency supporting all of London's diverse archives, libraries and museums, both public and private. It is now in the process of being set up and will assume its responsibilities on 1st April, 2004. It is the last of 9 Regional Agencies to be set up under the umbrella of Resource, the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries.

ALML will act as the strategic lead voice for museums, archives and libraries. Together with domain-specific bodies it will be a powerful advocate for their interests. It will research and promote the development of audiences and improved access for London's diverse population and visitors and encourage programmes of learning based on collections. It will seek to improve standards and workforce development.

Critical to its development, ALML will need to lock into the wider London agenda, in partnership with leading bodies including (but not exclusively) the Mayor and GLA, Government Office for London, Association of London Government, London Development Agency, Learning & Skills Council and health agencies. This will enable the ALML to place museums, archives and libraries at the heart of London's communities, and contribute to economic development through the knowledge economy and creative industries. ALML will facilitate the three domains' contribution to people's learning and skills, for life and work, both through formal education and lifelong learning.

ALML will be a charitable company, with an independently appointed Board of sixteen Trustees. Nine will be nominated by each of the three domain organisations (three each from London Libraries Development Association [LLDA], a new archives body succeeding London Archives Regional Council [LARC], and a new organisation succeeding the London Museums Agency [LMA]). One Trustee each will be nominated by the GLA and the ALG. Five Trustees will be recruited by open advertisement. This recruitment process is soon to begin.

At this stage, ALML has company status and its preparations for future operations are overseen by three Trustees, nominated by LLDA, LARC and LMA.

Funding comes from Resource, itself a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

In this interim stage, Resource has been funding an informal partnership (Libraries, Museums, Archives London - LMAL), with a voluntary executive, who have steered domain and cross-domain work for two years. The new Regional Agency will build on the work of LMAL. LMAL will phase-down between January and March 2004, as ALML takes over.

The annual budget of ALML, provided by Resource, will be c. £1.14 million. An annual programme and three year indicative programme has annually to be submitted to Resource in December. ALML's first year programme is in the course of being drafted.

The LMAL programme is delivered by in-house staff, staff in the domains and consultancies. For information, the 2003/4 LMAL programme currently underway comprises over 70 programmes and projects, ranging in cost from £1,500 to £58,000. These programmes focus on strategic leadership, cultural diversity, ICT and knowledge management, learning and access, social inclusion and regeneration, stewardship and standards, CPD and training, communications and information, and fundraising. Clearly, the latter will be an important factor in ALML's future success, and a challenge for the new Chief Executive.

Current staffing is employed under LLDA and LMA. On 1st April, 2004, LMA will cease to exist and its role will be taken up by ALML. It is likely that the new Regional Agency will take over LMA's offices at Cloister Court, in Farringdon, and that LMAL-related staff employed by LLDA will also transfer there.