Museums, Libraries & Archives

Museums, libraries and archives in the South East

  • 82% of people feel that it is important that their local town or city has a museum or art gallery
  • 96% of the population agree that Libraries provide a valuable service to their local communityӔ
  • 72% of visitors see archives as strengthening family and community identity

There are thousands of museums, libraries and archives in the South East.  In fact, we have more museums than any other region and are second only to London in terms of our archive collections. 

Museums, libraries and archives provide a resource to people who live, study, work and visit the South East.  We have several museums that are regarded as of international significance.  Many of the regions libraries provide a real focus within local communities.  But they are also located within schools, colleges, universities, health institutions, workplaces and other cultural organisations. 

Like libraries, archives can be stand-alone, or part of a wider organisation.  They are increasingly being placed and searched online.  And there is a growing use of archives for research into family history.

Museums, libraries and archives are represented in the region by MLA South East. www.mlasoutheast.org.uk or check out their profile here

Click on the links to the left to find out more about this sector.