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Introduction
The London Archives (TLA), one of the UK’s most important free public archives, that has a singular and ambitious focus: providing access to and the preservation of London historical artifacts from 1067 AD to the present day. With millions of historical manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, films and TLA-specific research guides, along with exhibitions, events and workshops, TLA provides an exceptional visitor and research experience for the public, historians, genealogists, academics and cultural institutions worldwide.
To safeguard the city’s historical memory and support the accessibility and findability of over 3 million collection records, TLA had these key requirements:
Celebrating 20 Years of Archives Reliability and Growth
Since selecting MINISIS Archives in 2006 (now provided by Soutron Global), The London Archive has benefited from a proven foundation for managing an increasingly complex collection.
In fact, in the 20 years following implementing MINISIS Archives, TLA has seen their collections grow exponentially from 3 million records to over 6 million records. Handling a dataset of this magnitude requires more than just storage; it requires a robust architecture capable of maintaining high-speed searchability and data integrity, which MINISIS Archives consistently delivered.
However, as the collection grew, so did the complexity of the formats involved, with some formats becoming obsolete, making database backups insufficient to ensure continued accessibility of their collection materials. TLA recognized that backups alone were no longer sufficient to safeguard digital materials long-term from format obsolescence.
Adding a Trusted Digital Repository: Obsolescence Protection with Digital Preservation
Born‑digital historical materials require proactive long‑term preservation to protect against digital degradation ensure ongoing accessibility of digital items and their contextual metadata, TLA implemented the MINISIS Trusted Digital Repository (TDR) in 2019.
After implementing MINISIS TDR for their digital preservation solution, TLA gained:
This ensures both born‑digital items and digitized surrogate materials remain authentic, accessible and understandable for future generations.
How The London Archives is Preparing for the Future
To ensure these irreplaceable artifacts remain accessible to researchers and the public, TLA has partnered with Soutron and MINISIS and is in the process of transitioning to a next-generation web-based Cultural Asset Management System (CAMS), capable of managing archives, library and museum collections within a single, modern platform.
Benhttps://www.soutron.com/en_us/products/cultural-asset-management-system/efits of the new Web‑based CAMS:
The web-based architecture of their new solution will improve accessibility for staff and supports richer discovery experiences for researchers, because unlike traditional siloed databases, now TLA visitors will be able quickly use a single search deliver results from multiple collection sources, helping to present a more complete, interconnected picture of London’s history.
Standards-based Large-Scale Data Migration
During our interview with Nicola, she shared how TLA is successfully handling one of the largest cultural heritage data migrations in the UK.
Migrating over 6 million records is complex, but TLA’s success is driven by these migration success factors:
1. Consistent use of ISAD(G) standards: Using structured, standards-based metadata ensures predictable mapping and smooth transformation into CAMS.
2. Deep expertise from the MINISIS / Soutron data migration team, which includes:
Nicola describes the process as “pain-free,” complimenting the team’s ability to maintain accuracy, searchability and contextual integrity throughout the migration.
Supporting High-Demand Research Services
With over 120 researcher requests daily, the MINISIS platform enables TLA to efficiently deliver high‑quality public services.
TLA receives more than 120 researcher requests every day. The MINISIS platform helps streamline this high service volume by providing researcher-focused tools, including:
These services maximize researcher efficiency and ensure a smooth, predictable experience for visitors while providing TLA staff the tools they need to efficiently service over 43,000 requests per year.
The London Archives’ Innovation in Cultural Asset Management and Digital Preservation
As TLA advances their usage of CAMS, they are set to unlock even more digital stewardship functionality. The team is looking forward to:
Together, MINISIS CAMS and the MINISIS Trusted Digital Repository provide TLA with a future-ready ecosystem, one that supports operational efficiency, public access and the long-term preservation of London’s documentary heritage, ensuring that the story of London. Fom the Norman Conquest to the digital 21st century, remains preserved and accessible for generations to come.
How The London Archives is Preparing for the Future
To ensure these irreplaceable artifacts remain accessible to researchers and the public, TLA has partnered with Soutron and MINISIS and is in the process of transitioning to a next-generation web-based Cultural Asset Management System (CAMS), capable of managing archives, library and museum collections within a single, modern platform.
Benefits of the new Web‑based CAMS:
The web-based architecture of their new solution will improve accessibility for staff and supports richer discovery experiences for researchers, because unlike traditional siloed databases, now TLA visitors will be able quickly use a single search deliver results from multiple collection sources, helping to present a more complete, interconnected picture of London’s history.
Standards-based Large-Scale Data Migration
During our interview with Nicola, she shared how TLA is successfully handling one of the largest cultural heritage data migrations in the UK.
Migrating over 6 million records is complex, but TLA’s success is driven by these migration success factors:
1. Consistent use of ISAD(G) standards: Using structured, standards-based metadata ensures predictable mapping and smooth transformation into CAMS.
2. Deep expertise from the MINISIS / Soutron data migration team, which includes:
Nicola describes the process as “pain-free,” complimenting the team’s ability to maintain accuracy, searchability and contextual integrity throughout the migration.
To find out more about The London Archives and the services available, visit their website for details:
www.thelondonarchives.org
To find out how you can migrate to a fast, secure, modern cultural asset management and digital preservation system to support the needs of your cultural institution, start a conversation with us and schedule an online demonstration today!