Press/Journalists

National Archives OGIS Celebrates “Sunshine Week” with FOIA Display and Program March 12th
Press Release · Friday, March 9, 2012

Washington, DC

In celebration of Sunshine Week, The National Archives Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) will host brief remarks and display of the original Freedom of Information Act. The press is invited to cover the program and display.

The original Freedom of Information Act, Public Law 89-487, is on display through Sunday, March 18, 2012.  The display is in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building which is located on Constitution Avenue at 9th Street, NW, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through March 14, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily March 15 through Labor Day.  Admission is free.

WHO:  Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero
OGIS Director Miriam Nisbet

WHEN:  Monday, March 12, 12:30 p.m.

WHERE:  National Archives Building, East Rotunda Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Note: Enter through the special events entrance on Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW

No Additional Light May Be Used in the Museum.

Background: One of the first countries to open access to government records, the United States passed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on July 4, 1966.  This law began a process to make government increasingly transparent. Today the public’s “right to know” is considered one of the fundamental rights of a democratic government.

This groundbreaking law recognized the essential principle that the records of a democratic government belong to the people. Over the next 30 years, amendments to the original law increased access to both paper and electronic documents that illustrate the workings of the government. In the past year, over 300,000 Americans requested and received records from federal agencies thanks to the Freedom of Information Act.

About OGIS

Referred to as the FOIA ombudsman, OGIS was created within the National Archives when the OPEN Government Act of 2007 amended the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) (FOIA).   OGIS began operations in September, 2009, and is charged with providing services to mediate disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies; reviewing policies and procedures of administrative agencies under FOIA; reviewing agency compliance with FOIA; and recommending policy changes to the Congress and President to improve the administration of FOIA.

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For more information on OGIS, see http://ogis.archives.gov.

Follow the OGIS blog at http://blogs.archives.gov/foiablog.

For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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