History of North Wales risks being 'buried by unprecedented plan'
North Wales is in danger of losing access to its heritage, worried Bangor University staff have warned. Proposed job cuts will decimate the university's archival department, which oversees a 'rare and unique collection' of local documents.
Archivists said anyone wanting to discover more about their family heritage, or dig into the history of their local community, will find it much harder if the cuts go ahead.
Bangor University is planning to cut 78 jobs in a bid to making savings worth £5.3m. It follows 'unprecedented' challenges facing the UK's higher education sector with nearly one in four universities slashing staff numbers and cutting budgets.
Archivists were horrified to discover their department will be virtually wiped out. Of the four staff, three posts will disappear, leaving just one part-timer to manage the university's entire archival collection, 92 special collections and library of rare books.
They have warned of a 'sudden, unprecedented threat to access to heritage' that will see the loss of 'decades worth of knowledge'.
A month-long consultation is taking place giving staff and students the chance to share opinions on where the axe should fall. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
In the hope of rallying public support to appeal the proposals, a Change.org petition has been by launched by Alex Ioannou, a research and digitisation assistant. Within 48 hours, the petition had been signed by more than 1,000 people.
The petition states: "It is difficult to apprehend how this decision was made, which means a reduction of 75% in the archives staffing levels – a reduction which is completely disproportionate to the wider cuts within Digital Services Department.
'We consider these proposed changes to be a direct assault on the service and on the rare and unique collection that have been entrusted to the University for safekeeping since the early days.'
As well as Bangor University's own historical records, the archives department manages collections from across Wales and beyond. Papers and manuscripts include those from landed estates and renowned literary figures.
It is also oversees donated material at the university's Centre of Arthurian Studies, which seeks to unravel the legends surrounding King Arthur. Another collection provides a focus for the RS Thomas Research Centre.
In 2022, Daniel Huws, former Keeper of Records at the National Library of Wales, said Bangor University's archives and collection of manuscripts were 'among the most distinguished in a university anywhere in Britain'
The petition added: 'Our community - which includes local people, students, staff as well as international and global visitors - should not have to suffer the loss of such a treasured resource because of short-sighted budget cuts.
'Together we can show that as a community we take pride in our heritage and value access to knowledge.'
In February, Bangor University said it needed to make savings of £15m, putting 200 jobs at risk. These figures have now been scaled back to £5.3m and 78 posts.
The re-evaluation follows savings already made through 'strict controls' and 'voluntary severance and retirements'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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