Exploring the Welsh Publications Archive

This article introduces the Welsh Government Publications Archive: a resource developed to preserve and promote public access to archived government publications which is maintained by the Welsh Government Knowledge and Library Services. It discusses the statutory and practical requirements for preserving government publications under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 (RPSI). It outlines the evolution of the archive from a Publications Centre enabling access to predominantly physical publications to an online repository directing users to mostly scanned or born-digital publications. It highlights its role in supporting transparency, accountability and institutional memory. Examples of the Publications Archive's holdings are provided, and their relevance to Wales’ devolution journey, policy landscape, public administration and economic development is highlighted. A recent upgrade to the archive is detailed, exploring collaborative efforts to improve its usability, adherence to standards, and the work done to ensure it remains a valuable resource for researchers, civil servants and the public.