Leading strategically, the MLA promotes best practice in museums, libraries and archives, to inspire innovative, integrated and sustainable services for all. We are a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Launched in April 2000 as the strategic body working with and for the museums, archives and libraries sector, tapping into the potential for collaboration between them, MLA replaced the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) and the Library and Information Commission (LIC).
The MLA works nationally and regionally with government, local government, and key agencies and organisations across the sector.
The MLA believes that the best museums, libraries and archives:
Embed excellence, scholarship, creativity and diversity
Innovate, are entrepeneurial and adapt to new working methods
Ensure sustainability and continuous improvement is at the heart of all they do
Broaden and deepen access to their information and resources
Perform to the highest levels and champion continous professional development
Are engaging and enjoyable places for people to visit and use
Integrate with other forms of culture, the arts, sport and local services to offer essential resources that meet the needs of people, communities and places
Our vision is that all museums, libraries and archives should achieve this high standard