17 Nov 2011

NLI, National Archives and IMC to merge

Just a few weeks after the news that The Library Council is to be dissolved with its functions integrated into NESC, today's Public Sector Reform report confirms that the National Archives and Irish Manuscript Commission will both be merged into the National Library, while maintaining separate identities.

Whilst increasing efficiency and reducing needless costs is always a good thing in theory, it would be disappointing to see the profile of an institution such as the National Archives diminish - or worse, disappear - whilst the (very excellent!) National Library steals the limelight. I do not know enough about the structures of the particular institutions to comment on whether such action is indeed needed, and what the implications for services will be in practice, but I have a feeling this may be just the start of a period of significant rationalisation where public sector libraries are concerned.

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