The National Archives Hosts Electronic Records Discussions With User Groups
Press Release · Tuesday, February 4, 2003

Washington, DC

The National Archives and Records Administration invites user groups including researchers, archivists, genealogists, historians, chief information officers, federal records officers, information resource managers, and librarians to a discussion about a digital archives to preserve U.S. Government records of continuing value and make them available electronically for as long as needed. The Electronic Records Archives (ERA) is the National Archives strategic response to the challenge of preserving, managing, and accessing electronic records. These User Dialogue Sessions will help define the needs and expectations of ERA users. The discussions are free and open to the interested public.

Dialogue Session Schedule: All sessions will meet from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

February 11, 2003
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
441 Freedom Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30307

February 13, 2003
The National Archives Northeast Region
201 Varick St., New York, NY 10014

February 25, 2003
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065

February 27, 2003
The National Archives Great Lakes Region
Ralph Metcalf Federal Building
77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) ensures, for the citizen, the President, the Congress and the Courts, ready access to essential evidence that documents the rights of citizens, the actions of federal officials, and the national experience. The National Archives is a public trust that plays a key role in fostering effective and responsible government through management of the life cycle of records in all three Branches of the federal government and through sustained access to historically valuable records in the National Archives and the Presidential Libraries. These records enable people to inspect for themselves what the government has done, allow officials and agencies to review their actions, and help citizens hold them accountable.

To fulfill its mission, the National Archives needs to respond effectively to the challenge posed by the diversity, complexity, and enormous volume of electronic records being created today and the rapidly changing nature of the systems that are used to create them. The Electronic Records Archives (ERA) will be a comprehensive, systematic, and dynamic means for preserving virtually any kind of electronic record, free from dependence on any specific hardware or software. ERA, when operational, will make it easy for NARA customers to find records they want, and easy for NARA to deliver those records in formats suited to customers' needs.