The National Archives and Records AdministrationThe National Archives and Records AdministrationNARA_4ef1c994-cf53-4e47-af79-52d26e19f5a5As the nation’s record keeper, it is our vision that all Americans will understand the vital role records play in a democracy, and their own personal stake in the National Archives. Our holdings and diverse programs will be available to more people than ever before through modern technology and dynamic partnerships. The stories of our nation and our people are told in the records and artifacts cared for in NARA facilities around the country. We want all Americans to be inspired to explore the records of their country._60d0625d-4d1b-4044-b73e-4330fd3c1b94The National Archives and Records Administration serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. We ensure continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. We support democracy, promote civic education, and facilitate historical understanding of our national experience._3bf10a50-39b4-418a-b91a-155da078d42cStrategic Goal 1As the nation’s record keeper, we will ensure the continuity and effective operation of Federal programs by expanding our leadership and services in managing the Government’s records_89ec6c76-bf5e-442c-b946-cadf272a32b11At the beginning of the 21st century, we recognized a need to redesign Federal records management strategies and techniques that were developed in the mid-20th century for paper records to address the way records are created and managed now. In response, we identified goals and devised strategies, tactics, and measures of success that will prepare us for the records and information challenges of this century. We will ensure that • Federal agencies can economically and effectively create and manage records necessary to meet business needs • Records are kept long enough to protect rights and assure accountability, and • Records of archival value are preserved and made available for future generations. Through our Federal Records Center system, NARA provides secure and cost-effective records storage, access, and disposition services for Federal agencies. As agencies deal with tight budgets and downsizing, the records management expertise available from NARA has become vital to maintaining records according to Federal regulations in many agencies. This is the foundation on which the long-term success of NARA’s mission depends. Promoting and ensuring effective records management across the Federal Government is the first building block to the rest of our Strategic Plan. Going further, we must demonstrate the connection between effective records management and responsive, citizen-focused Government. We must continue to make the case that Government records are valuable assets and that effective records management is the tool for managing and protecting them. We must also aggressively pursue solutions to the management challenges of electronic records. Recent disasters, both natural and man-made, have underscored the importance of records. In an instant, years’ worth of vital records and irreplaceable information can be destroyed forever. Our role in these emergencies is to promote the preservation of records, first our own, then other Federal records, and then those of other levels of government. Our records management oversight and guidance responsibilities have long included Federal agency vital records management programs to plan for and recover from records-related emergencies and disasters. NARA will continue to be a partner in the Federal response community. In advance of emergencies, we support other Government agencies and public institutions with advice about disaster preparedness for records. During emergencies, we provide counsel in reacting to emergency situations that threaten records. Our readiness to respond also includes preserving the Federal Register publication system, which generates legal records essential to the continuity of America’s constitutional democracy. NARA will ensure that the Federal Register is published in times of crisis, in the face of all hazards, for as long as needed. There is no question that the role of the nation’s record keeper is vital to the future of our nation, for without proactive records management we will lose the information that documents the daily work of our Government and, ultimately, the history of our nation.Specific Strategies for Records Management AWe will expand the demand for records management in the Federal Government by advocating for it at senior levels. By providing guidance, training, and assistance throughout the Government, we will support agencies’ business needs and embed records management in the agencies’ business processes and systems._bee5e3de-cf1d-4b7e-9b08-0c8da4d2f973ASpecific Strategies for Records Management BIn addition to providing efficient records storage and retrieval, we will offer expanded reimbursable records center services such as the ability to manage electronic records within the Federal Records Center Program._8521d9b0-eb27-49f8-af36-520092177016BSpecific Strategies for Ensuring the Continuity of Operations CWe will promote the preservation of government records during times of disaster—first and foremost those that we hold, then other Federal records, then those of other levels of government._174db736-c70c-48bd-bc88-ce83b4acb2a3CSpecific Strategies for Ensuring the Continuity of Operations DThe Federal Register will be ready on short notice at another location to support Federal plans for continuity of operations._ede53e9d-54d1-4093-99fc-aa48bf1ffbf3DSpecific Strategies for Ensuring the Continuity of Operations EWe will protect our holdings in the event of a man-made or natural disaster._b0d1b41f-665d-48b8-9aff-6b0e4deb0f51ESpecific Strategies for Ensuring the Continuity of Operations FAll NARA facilities will be prepared to function under continuity of operations plans with minimal interruption of essential functions._1a2b50bc-4561-4e44-8a0a-0a4d709d13c5FSpecific Strategies for Ensuring the Continuity of Operations GWe will support the Government in obtaining and preserving essential documentation related to a continuation- of-Government event._915f5bc4-9d5a-4603-8bdd-0510f314d265GSpecific Strategies for Ensuring the Continuity of Operations HWe will ensure that all appropriate records are acquired and remain available for special access during Presidential and congressional transitions._05c8f616-79a8-4390-a007-45bbc9d32c93HStrategic Goal 2We will preserve and process records to ensure access by the public as soon as legally possible_03f27331-0a33-4475-bb8a-b84bc7c8dd0e2In a democracy, the records of the Government belong to its citizens, and providing access to them is a vital service. After the Archivist has identified the records to be retained for posterity, NARA gathers, stores, processes, and preserves them. Our holdings cannot be made available to current and future generations if we do not invest in the archival processing and preservation of records in our custody. Archival processing involves all the steps needed to open a record to the public. It includes establishing basic intellectual control, flagging records that have privacy or national security classifications, providing enhanced discriptions of the records content as well as the context in which the records were created, and performing initial preservation so that the records may be served to the public. New technology has created increased opportunities for easier and faster access to our holdings. However, the same technology has led to the creation of more records. The result is that new records have been accessioned (transferred to the legal custody of the National Archives) faster than they could be processed. This has created a backlog of holdings that has been growing for decades. To deal with this backlog and make our holdings accessible to the public, we will examine our work processes and re-engineer them to make them as effective as possible. We will seek out and develop partnerships to assist in this effort, and will realign our business systems and processes when appropriate. The expected result will be a considerable increase in records available for research. Our archival processing efforts must go hand-in-hand with investments in the preservation, appropriate storage, and security of the records and artifacts in our custody. Our holdings include loose and bound textual records, photographs, motion picture films, architectural drawings, maps and plans, magnetic media, sound recordings, electronic records, and artifacts such as furniture, paintings, and textiles. It is our responsibility to ensure that items such as these—as well as our more famous holdings like the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights—receive the care they are due. This means that they are appropriately preserved, stored, handled, and exhibited so that they are available to future generations. For records to be available to researchers, we must have inspected them and given them appropriate preservation attention. We must continue to focus on preparing appropriate archival space for both our present and future holdings. Changing and increasing threats and vulnerabilities may continue to require improved security measures for our holdings, staff, and infrastructure. We will continue to refine our security measures to guard our holdings while still maintaining the open access that our mission inherently dictates.Specific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records AWe will establish intellectual control over our unprocessed collections so that the public can have efficient access._03981341-3c5e-4443-9085-1c5f903f6db7ASpecific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records BWe will ensure that records to be accessioned into the National Archives arrive on time, properly documented, and in accordance with our published guidance._dd9c34ad-36dc-4c56-80bf-d4d7442da6ddBSpecific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records CWe will expeditiously process our holdings for opening to the public as soon as legally possible._f8d8ddf3-a07f-4724-aabb-a29f15303343CSpecific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records DWe will improve the efficiency with which we manage our holdings from the time they are scheduled through accessioning, processing, storage, preservation, and public use._eb5f0a6b-0c86-48db-bce6-366362b9fb88DSpecific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records EWe will describe all of our holdings at a level and quality appropriate to their use, understanding that these descriptions are the key to subsequent access._28da44e8-bf18-403f-b4ce-6b4435a7c4b9ESpecific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records FWe will ensure that all eligible classified holdings are either declassified, exempted, or referred according to Executive Order 12958, as amended._02ac9fb1-616d-449a-9a04-dc5640d10ec1FSpecific Strategies for Accessioning and Processing Records GWe will work to ensure that the continued classification and withholding of sensitive holdings is entirely appropriate and for no longer than necessary._0a6867ac-0df1-4240-a4e5-9e4f9117625eGSpecific Strategies for Storage, Preservation, and Collections Security HWe will ensure that all of our holdings are in appropriate space, whether temporary holdings in the records centers or archival holdings in our archival facilities, and whether they are artifacts, electronic files, or traditional records._0d89a9c5-7eb0-454c-9325-3f46ee2d8128HSpecific Strategies for Storage, Preservation, and Collections Security JWe will prioritize and address the preservation needs of all our holdings, regardless of format._1445c782-d387-4837-b9c5-6d8042f8d107JSpecific Strategies for Storage, Preservation, and Collections Security IWe will ensure that future Presidential libraries meet standards that will make them usable and sustainable into the future._48af2126-b102-4cf5-93b8-fde40057d802ISpecific Strategies for Storage, Preservation, and Collections Security KWe will proactively adapt our security measures for our staff, holdings, and infrastructure to meet changing threats and vulnerabilities._9388fa67-89b5-4bde-ae10-273403b51d3fKStrategic Goal 3We will address the challenges of electronic records in Government to ensure success in fulfilling NARA’s mission in the digital era_5731aae3-9e89-4877-8d48-ffc3006c39bd3For many years, NARA’s mission involved preserving the paper records that have been created over more than two centuries of our nation’s government. Over the past decade we have identified a course for dealing with the challenge of preserving electronic records. Now, the volume of electronic records is increasing exponentially. Having the ability to find, manage, use, share, and appropriately dispose of electronic records is vital for the effective functioning of the Federal Government. Across the entire Federal Government, there is one prominent trend that is creating both challenges and opportunities for the National Archives to assess and improve how it conducts its business—the increasing dependency of the U.S. Government on information and networking technology to execute governmental functions. This transformation of government processes, also known as “e-Government,” has resulted not only in the development and use of new tools to conduct business, and the creation of records in new and varied formats, but also in the transformation of the way public business is carried out. This trend has critical implications for the lifecycle management of records, creating an inherent tension for the National Archives. On the one hand, the Government needs us to provide direction in this changing and uncharted landscape, and we must update our services for both the Government and the public to deal with electronic records. On the other hand, we must recognize that information technology is dynamic, and there is no predictable end to the evolution of the technology we use or in the characteristics of electronic records. To successfully meet the needs of both Government and the public, the National Archives must continue to adapt and expand its services as the shift to e-Government continues. Our primary response to the challenge of authentically preserving electronic records free of specific hardware and software and providing access to these records in the future is the Electronic Records Archives (ERA). When deployed, ERA will give us the means to preserve, process, and provide sustained access to Federal Government electronic records of archival value and to provide economical storage and retrieval services for electronic records that remain under the legal control of the originating agencies. ERA will provide a comprehensive, systematic, and dynamic means of preserving and providing continuing access to authentic electronic records over time. In addition, the National Archives will develop new transfer standards to enable more efficient processing of electronic records being transferred to ERA. Finally, we will continue to work closely with many partners to ensure that this technology is scalable for use by state and local governments, the private sector, and other institutions with a need to preserve electronic records over time.Specific Strategies AWe will deploy the Electronic Records Archives to capture, describe, preserve, and provide access to Government electronic records._78c6cdc3-aa68-401b-bbca-bf2318a8e63dASpecific Strategies BThrough research partnerships, we will expand our expertise in the capture, preservation, and delivery of electronic records._2cebc700-7f2b-4241-9bdc-518d82ee208aBSpecific Strategies CWe will partner with agencies, researchers, and private industry to develop, implement, manage, and promote our electronic records program._1e346c96-bec1-4a69-95a7-b02b9b32dceaCStrategic Goal 4We will provide prompt, easy, and secure access to our holdings anywhere, anytime_d52faf1f-deb0-49ec-bc1e-f9d17fb3ea004In the decades to come, the expectation of easy online access to our holdings will grow. The breadth of information available on the Internet has increased public demand for faster access to more information than could even be thought possible just a decade ago. Research is no longer relegated to libraries and research rooms, but is being done around-the-clock on computers worldwide. To support this new appetite for information, we will create, to the greatest extent possible, an “archives without walls.” We have two challenges in this area. The first is to provide access to records that were created digitally. Being already digital, these will be made available through the Electronic Records Archives. By contrast, our traditional records must be scanned or otherwise digitized. We will work to digitize selected records, including those most requested by researchers. Additionally, we will put searchable descriptions of all our holdings online with clear information about the archival context of the original records and how they may be located and used, and we will develop online tools to assist researchers. Some researchers need to delve deeper into records than our online services will allow. We will continue to support them with research rooms and expert reference staff. We will equip these facilities and staff with the tools to help researchers locate records at any National Archives facility. At the same time, we must reinvent the traditional role of our reference staff and equip them with the skills they need to work in an online world. The Internet has introduced countless researchers to the holdings of the National Archives. This thirst for online access to information is exciting, as it brings more and more people to our virtual doors. Yet the task of building an “archives without walls” is daunting. Our strategies in this area will focus on developing dynamic partnerships to digitize and deliver our most popular holdings and create tools to help researchers find the information they seek. By putting our country’s records literally at the public’s fingertips, we will be able to share our rich resources with more people than ever before.Specific Strategies AWe will continuously re-envision the nature of archival research services to sustain a nationwide system of archival research with coordinated access to all the resources and staff expertise of the National Archives._51ec3770-8f13-4636-88a2-ffd969134e56ASpecific Strategies BFor the broadest possible access, we will make digital copies of selected non-electronic records available online. We will identify these holdings in a digitization plan that sets priorities for putting these holdings online._bba4f92e-a090-4305-b5ee-56b42530f4a3BSpecific Strategies CWe will work to establish partnerships with both governmental and private institutions to facilitate the availability of NARA holdings over the Internet, in accordance with appropriate Government laws, regulations, policy, and guidance._586aff91-b24b-43f4-8f47-34fa8e368628CSpecific Strategies DWe will continue to publish descriptions of our archival holdings in an online catalog, and provide online access to selected records via the published descriptions, including those holdings hosted by our digitization partners, so that the archival context of all our holdings is readily available._1638c451-6693-4cb4-844c-74c0da24e1b3DSpecific Strategies EWe will eliminate the backlog of written requests awaiting reply, especially those made under the Freedom of Information Act._224e11b5-3e11-4413-a334-8eacfffa42fcEStrategic Goal 5We will increase access to our records in ways that further civic literacy in America through our museum, public outreach, and education programs_25c484e9-ad5d-4340-bd55-2299165fa71e5America’s democracy is reborn—and reinterpreted—with each generation. In that essential work of renewal, each generation must understand the basic ideas, forms, and values of the Government they inherit. It is with this understanding, this civic literacy informed by the lessons of history, that the American people will be equipped to nurture the evolution of our democracy. In the promotion of civic literacy, the National Archives has always played a unique and important role. As the keeper of Government records, we have literally safeguarded the documentary record of American history. In a world where everyone has an opinion regarding current events, we have offered an evidential foundation for the public conversation. Familiarity with this evidential record is the core of what we mean by civic literacy. Access to these holdings is the right of all Americans. From the Charters of Freedom, to the census records that enumerate our country’s population, to the records of Congress and Presidential administrations, our holdings are so vast and diverse that the value and amount of information available is not always readily apparent to the public. Therefore, we continually educate the public about the treasure of information and the services we offer to enable access to our holdings. We understand that our usefulness to the public is directly related to our visibility. People must know what we are, what we do, and what we hold before they can benefit from our resources. Likewise, we must understand who our customers are and what they need from us. We have seen the power of the Internet to bring communities of interest together for a common purpose. We will foster such online communities in our mission area, believing that through them we can multiply our effectiveness at promoting civic literacy. We likewise see our volunteers, the Foundation for the National Archives, and the private foundations that support the Presidential libraries as instrumental in advancing archival ideas and civic literacy. They promote our mission and provide additional resources to accomplish that mission while becoming a grass-roots corps of advocates for historical records. The National Archives is not a single building in Washington, DC. It is a nationwide network of regional archives, records centers, and Presidential libraries and museums. Along with our web sites, our facilities provide access to records as well as workshops, seminars, exhibits, lectures, films, and special events, giving visitors all around the country unique interactive experiences. We will continue to augment our programs through partnerships with institutions that can help us reach our goals. Through our public outreach and education programs that help people understand how to use our holdings, we are committed to furthering our nation’s civic literacy and putting America in touch with the richness of history and the promise of the future.Specific Strategies AWorking with other Federal and state agencies whose primary purpose is education, we will continue to support teachers and students, creating a cadre of educators and researchers who use primary sources as teaching tools._1fd08491-a7b0-4ea8-b705-b1e74a20d803ASpecific Strategies BWe will promote the understanding of America’s national experience through lifelong learning programs._3c56590e-cc2b-4c6e-832b-4332941930c8BSpecific Strategies CWe will create exhibits and programs that raise the profile of records, and the historical and civic understanding that is based on those records. We will use all available resources, including the private foundations that support the National Archives and the Presidential libraries, to expand audiences, achieve public notice, reach new communities, and engage opinion leaders._c1ef15f7-2ed2-450d-8525-47f7b6068c39CSpecific Strategies DWe will expand our web presence to broaden the reach of our exhibit and education programs and improve the quality of the visitor experience._b56443a5-30d0-4b8a-8ad6-519b62e49d57DSpecific Strategies EWe will continue to work with the private foundations that support the National Archives and the Presidential libraries to raise the visibility of the National Archives to the public._4945a712-f876-47d8-99f1-eed03d0fa711ESpecific Strategies FWe will partner with industry, national and international institutions, and affiliated archives to develop cooperative initiatives that showcase NARA holdings, promote civic and historical literacy, and highlight the importance of records._491a889e-5c13-4c4c-86ca-a34a002c29f1FStrategic Goal 6We will equip NARA to meet the changing needs of our customers_00499951-d631-4cb7-9009-35cf748ffd8f6In this plan, we commit ourselves to expanding records management services to the Federal community and solving the challenges of electronic records in government. We also pledge to make more of our holdings available for examination by the public, and to create new and dynamic ways for researchers to learn about, access, and care for our holdings so they will be preserved for use by generations to come. These are bold commitments, and to fulfill them will require bold thinking and bold ideas. As managers and employees, we must challenge ourselves—and each other—to think proactively about emerging challenges and opportunities, apply new approaches to old problems, and seek out ways to improve and streamline our business processes. And collectively, we must establish ourselves as an organization that seeks excellence, encourages flexibility, and always puts the customer first. It is not enough to make a plan—we must create the staff, culture, and technological infrastructure to support that plan. First and foremost, we must ensure that everyone in NARA understands what is envisioned in this plan and how each of us can contribute to making the plan a reality. This includes not only our regular workforce, but also the countless students, volunteers, contractors, and other partners who contribute their time and energy to NARA programs across the country. For all of these staff, we must create an environment wherein individuals feel connected to the mission and vision of the agency and valued for the contributions they make. In addition, we must ensure that each of us in NARA understands who our customers are and what our customers expect from us. Each of us serves a customer, whether we are providing records management support to Federal agencies, preserving documents, locating service records for veterans, maintaining our IT systems and networks, awarding grants, or processing budget or personnel actions. These customers must always be our first thought—never an afterthought. Moreover, we must continually adapt our policies, practices, and procedures to provide the best possible value and service to our customers. In an environment where change is the rule rather than the exception, we cannot assume that the way we conduct business today will be the way we conduct business tomorrow. We must work with our customers to identify their changing needs and develop creative, innovative solutions. In particular, we must be attentive to our customers’ information technology requirements, and ensure that NARA’s information technology infrastructure is optimized to support those requirements.Specific Strategies AWe will identify and implement the cultural changes that we need to better serve our customers in a changing environment._b1f5c5a0-342f-4a70-bb45-a68d842cf9eaASpecific Strategies BWe will ensure that staff have the skills, competencies, training, and tools they need to support their customers in a changing environment._231069e0-1fa5-4a58-bc43-547526cd2363BSpecific Strategies CThrough innovative approaches, we will recruit and develop a diverse workforce so that we can better serve a diverse public._abdd70c4-1cd5-44ab-931e-1a5e5e8315ffCSpecific Strategies DWe will encourage and reward excellence, flexibility, accountability, and creativity._d4aa4f5e-2ac3-4578-9772-3d62839d21ddDSpecific Strategies EWe will increase staff productivity by improving our systems and processes._e9a2e5e0-221a-42c0-b38a-d92cba96b62cESpecific Strategies FWe will expand our partnerships with the professional communities who share our goals and mission._b75b0156-6fe9-49d1-aab6-b59c5db15c15FSpecific Strategies GWe will expand our corps of volunteers and the roles they play in helping us serve our customers._84646525-03cc-439e-b1a6-3e452802f97eGSpecific Strategies HWe will expand our corps of volunteers and the roles they play in helping us serve our customers._23643867-aaa0-4b63-87a6-a235a9cf6f47HSpecific Strategies IWe will make sure that each employee understands his or her opportunities to advance within the organization._7224cbaf-7fc1-4d99-9dd4-d76ff907cc76ISpecific Strategies JWe will involve employees in defining the best practices for their unit._9ed22af9-38da-4c31-b115-1979e06b14a6JSpecific Strategies KWe will support an information technology operation that thrives on nimbleness and serving customers, both internal and external._4ea7c77b-2f5f-4541-86d5-e663a7a2f31bK2006-01-012016-12-312010-02-08http://www.archives.gov/about/plans-reports/strategic-plan/2007/nara-strategic-plan-2006-2016.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net