Internet Archaeol 15. Paul Gilman. Access and education

1.8 Access and education

The role that SMRs can play in education and in widening access to information about the historic environment has been widely recognised. Many SMRs have tried to make their information more widely available, although limited resources have all too often held back development in this area. To help rectify this situation, the Heritage Lottery Fund's framework document to guide SMR bids to that fund is likely to lead to an increased emphasis on education and access projects. Some SMRs have also been able to take advantage of other government initiatives, such as the New Opportunities Fund and the New Libraries Network. All these should enable greater public access to SMR collections directly through provision of office space and computer access and remotely via libraries, Record Offices and the Internet. The exciting and innovative projects that are now being developed should result in a broader awareness of SMRs and their importance. Public interest and enthusiasm for the historic environment and conservation, partially developed through popular television programmes, is also being harnessed to develop a two-way flow of information between SMRs and local people with an interest in learning more about, and recording, their local historic environment.