The growing popularity of family and local history, and the greatly increased attention to archives by radio and television, have contributed to a new climate of opinion in which funding for the care of archives, and for improved means of access to them, has at last assumed higher priority than was once the case. This is one of the important factors underpinning the remarkable flowering of archive buildings in recent years, which is documented in this book. It will be welcomed by archivists and librarians, as well as that growing band of architects, engineers, planners and governing bodies actively involved in archive building projects. It is hoped that they will draw encouragement from what others have achieved. The general reader with an interest in our archival heritage will discover some strikingly attractive new buildings as well as other successful and interesting conversions.