Bangor University’s proposed cuts will lead to a sudden, unprecedented threat to access to heritage.

Bangor University is slashing funding to your Archives, meaning the loss of jobs and decades worth of knowledge.

The current 4 employees are doing everything they can to stretch resources, find new funding, and advocate for solutions. But without urgent support, they are running out of time.

We are asking you, and other members of the community to call on Bangor University to see the value of our archives—your signing of our petition can help keep this vital service running and be sustainable in the future. We have just 4 weeks to appeal the plans drawn up by university’s higher management. 

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.

Please act by signing our petition by the 11th June.

If the collections held at Bangor University Archives and Special Collections, or the staff have helped your work, discovering more about your family heritage or local place then please also consider writing a short personal message explaining how. 

You can send your personal message of support to communications@bangor.ac.uk

----

Mae toriadau arfaethedig Prifysgol Bangor yn mynd i arwain at fygythiad sydyn a digynsail i fynediad i dreftadaeth.

Mae Prifysgol Bangor yn torri cyllid yr Archifau a Chasgliadau Arbennig sy'n golygu colli swyddi a cholli gwerth degawdau o wybodaeth.

Mae'r 4 gweithiwr presennol yn gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i ymestyn yr adnoddau, dod o hyd i gyllid newydd, ac eirioli dros atebion. Ond heb gymorth brys, maent yn rhedeg allan o amser.

Rydym yn gofyn i chi, ac aelodau eraill o’r gymuned, alw ar Brifysgol Bangor i weld gwerth ein harchifau—gall arwyddo ein deiseb helpu i gadw’r gwasanaeth hanfodol hwn a sicrhau ei gynaladwyedd yn y dyfodol. Dim ond 4 wythnos sydd gennym i apelio yn erbyn y cynlluniau a luniwyd gan uwch reolwyr y brifysgol.

Ni ddylai ein cymuned - sy'n cynnwys pobl leol, myfyrwyr, staff yn ogystal ag ymwelwyr rhyngwladol a byd-eang - orfod dioddef colli adnodd mor werthfawr oherwydd toriadau cyllidebol byr eu golwg.

Gyda'n gilydd gallwn ddangos ein bod fel cymuned yn ymfalchïo yn ein treftadaeth ac yn gwerthfawrogi mynediad at wybodaeth.

Gweithredwch drwy lofnodi ein deiseb erbyn 11 Mehefin.

Os yw’r casgliadau a gedwir yn Archifau a Chasgliadau Arbennig Prifysgol Bangor, neu’r staff wedi helpu eich gwaith chi a’ch cynhorthwyo i ddarganfod mwy am eich treftadaeth deuluol neu le lleol yna cofiwch hefyd ystyried ysgrifennu neges bersonol fer yn egluro sut. 

Gallwch anfon eich neges bersonol o gefnogaeth at cyfathrebu@bangor.ac.uk

 

-----------------------

The detail

It is proposed that 3 archival posts will disappear with only 1 part-time post remain to “manage” the whole archival collection as well as the printed special collections and rare books. (78 full time equivalent posts will be lost throughout the whole University).

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.

In addition to the historical records of Bangor University we have large collections of papers relating to the whole of Wales and the world, specifically the papers of landed estates and renowned literary figures.

This is what Daniel Huws, the former Keeper of Records at the National Library of Wales has to say about us “Bangor University Archives and Special Collections - Its archival and manuscript holdings are today among the most distinguished in a university anywhere in Britain.”

It is difficult to image what kind of service the University will be able to offer with one member of staff (part-time), but there is no doubt that access to our collections will be affected significantly. 

We ask you kindly for your support as we fight against this decision and call on the University to re-consider.

 

Y manylion

Cynigir y bydd 3 swydd archifol yn diflannu gyda dim ond 1 swydd ran amser ar ôl i “reoli” y casgliad archifol cyfan yn ogystal â’r casgliadau arbennig printiedig a llyfrau prin. (bydd 78 o swyddi cyfwerth ag amser llawn yn cael eu colli ar draws y Brifysgol gyfan).

Mae'n anodd dirnad ​​sut y gwnaed y penderfyniad hwn sy'n golygu gostyngiad o 75% yn lefelau staffio'r archifdy - gostyngiad sy'n gwbl anghymesur â'r toriadau ehangach o fewn yr Adran Gwasanaethau Digidol.

Ystyriwn fod y newidiadau arfaethedig hyn yn ymosodiad uniongyrchol ar y gwasanaeth ac ar y casgliad prin ac unigryw sydd wedi’i ymddiried i’r Brifysgol i’w gadw’n ddiogel ers y dyddiau cynnar.

Yn ogystal â chofnodion hanesyddol Prifysgol Bangor mae gennym gasgliadau mawr o bapurau yn ymwneud â Chymru gyfan a’r byd, yn benodol papurau ystadau tir a llenorion o fri.

Dyma sydd gan Daniel Huws, cyn Geidwad Cofnodion Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru i’w ddweud amdanon ni “Archifau a Chasgliadau Arbennig Prifysgol Bangor – Mae ei daliadau archifol a llawysgrifau heddiw ymhlith y rhai mwyaf nodedig mewn prifysgol yn unrhyw le ym Mhrydain.”

Mae’n anodd dychmygu pa fath o wasanaeth y bydd y Brifysgol yn gallu ei gynnig gydag un aelod o staff (rhan amser), ond nid oes amheuaeth y bydd mynediad i’n casgliadau yn cael ei effeithio’n sylweddol.

Gofynnwn yn garedig i chi am eich cefnogaeth wrth i ni frwydro yn erbyn y penderfyniad hwn a galw ar y Brifysgol i ail-ystyried.