The Alicante Provincial Historical Archive is described as capable of handling tasks through its Generalitat website, but there is a lack of clear guidance and personalized support. There is no mention of in-person or remote consultations, guided tours, or a restoration laboratory being available to visitors or researchers.
Staffing at the archive is minimal: one manager, two assistants (both near retirement), and a janitor. This is stated as the current team by the center’s social media, with more than 9,000 square meters of facilities opened in 2008 through an investment by the Ministry of Culture and the regional government. The annual budget is cited as 65 thousand euros.
A technician who had been in an interim position recently moved to another organization due to uncertainty about the future. The manager reported that Maria del Olmo had taken sick leave. There is criticism directed at the Generalitat for what is described as indifference, while the head of the center asserts that this is not a new situation and that the staff present can handle administrative tasks but cannot fulfill archival duties. The archive requires continuity and stability to operate, otherwise it cannot function properly.
According to those involved, the technician who left gave notice by phone, and the situation was relayed to the head of the Archive Department in the Ministry of Culture. At the time of termination, communications within the department were fragmented. The director received dismissal notifications by mail and was later contacted by phone in the afternoon, highlighting communication gaps within the institution.
In a morning statement, the Ministry of Culture confirmed that the Alicante Archive has a vacant technician position and that administrative steps have been initiated to fill it urgently. They also noted that the department was informed about the director’s status through social networks and media, and that no formal update had been received regarding sick leave or the working status of the archive director.
Del Olmo describes a pattern of insufficient responses from authorities, noting that every community archive is better equipped than this one, and that the absence of a center in the three provinces where the archive operates worsens the situation. Nevertheless, the archive organizes exhibitions from its collections, school campaigns reaching tens of thousands of students annually, conferences, and other events. It serves as a reference center in Spain, though it faces what is described as indifference and neglect rather than recognition for good work and exemplary service.
A properly functioning operation would require a staff of at least nine people: management, a conservator, two technicians, two assistants, an administrative role, and two janitors.
a hard road
The current state of the Historical Archives is seen as the tipping point in a longer pattern of abandonment. The Alicante Public Library, now named Azorín, relocated in 1974 to a new building. Staffing at the time did not match the building or its contents, and a fixed staffing template was not created, leaving the center with temporary arrangements instead of a stable structure.
In 2008 the archive employed 12 people, a number that had been reduced by half by 2019. The researcher room was closed between May and October, and the center was temporarily staffed by the technician who later left. The former director Esperanza López retired in 2009, leaving a leadership gap that persisted for years. In November of the previous year, the conservator moved to another position, a temporary move due to job insecurity that could not be filled. Since 2019, correspondence from the official registry has documented concerns about the situation, but responses have been limited to temporary patches rather than sustained solutions.
The archive is also home to a restoration laboratory, a facility funded by the Ministry with substantial investment, yet it sits underused. The machines there are at risk of deterioration if not actively employed, a concern raised by those in charge.
Alicante Historical Archive opens restoration center this year
Today, researchers visiting the Provincial Historical Archive encounter a struggling reception. The concierge feels overwhelmed, and assistants are not always able to perform their duties. Without a technician, ordering and filing incoming documents becomes challenging, and yet money transfers keep arriving but are stored away due to a lack of staff to manage them. The staff expresses a strong commitment to delivering quality service, emphasizing that the archive operates with public funds and must be managed responsibly for the benefit of citizens.
María del Olmo emphasizes their intent to provide good service, reinforcing the archive’s role as a public resource and the need for stable staffing to meet researchers’ needs. The message is clear: a well-staffed archive is essential to preserve and provide access to invaluable documents and historical materials.