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National Archives Announces Advisory Committee for Electronic Records Archives
Press Release · Thursday, September 8, 2005

Washington, D.C. . . . At a press conference this morning, Dr. Kenneth Thibodeau, Director of the Electronic Records Archives Program, announced the formation of a high-level committee to advise and make recommendations to Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein on issues related to the development, implementation and use of the Electronic Records Archives (ERA) system. This committee is named the Advisory Committee on the Electronic Records Archives (ACERA).

In making the announcement, Dr. Thibodeau said, "As we move forward to making the Electronic Records Archives a reality, it is more important than ever that we reach out to obtain advice from a broad spectrum of experts. The Advisory Committee will provide an ongoing structure for bringing together experts in computer science and information technology, archival science and records management, information science, the law, history, genealogy, and education."

The 20 members of the committee, appointed by the Archivist of the United States, are recognized experts and leaders in their field.

Committee members include:

  • Dr. David Carmichael, State Archivist of Georgia,
  • Dr. Jerry Handfield, State Archivist of Washington State,
  • Richard Pearce-Moses, Director of Digital Government Information at the Arizona State Library and Archives,
  • Jonathan Redgrave, partner at Jones Day
  • Dr. Sharon Dawes, Director of the Center for Technology in Government and Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy, the University at Albany,
  • Dr Luciana Duranti, Chair and Professor of Archival Studies, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, The University of British Columbia, and Director of the InterPARES Project
  • Dr. Daniel Greenstein, Associate Vice Provost Scholarly Information and University Librarian, California Digital Library, University of California,
  • Andy Maltz, Director, Science and Technology Council, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  • David Rencher, Director, Records and Information Division, Family and Church History Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Dr. Kelly Woestman, Professor and History Education Director, Pittsburg State University

The Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Background: The ERA system will be a comprehensive, systematic, and dynamic means for storing, preserving, and accessing 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 the records they want and easy for the National Archives to deliver those records in formats suited to customers' needs.

The National Archives mission is to serve American democracy by ensuring that the people can discover, use, and trust the records of our government. Increasingly, records are created and maintained in electronic formats. In order to continue serving its mission, the National Archives must 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.

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For further information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Office at 202-501-5526.

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