Local government records represent the foundation
of the U.S. archival system and are truly “Closest to Home,”
created and used in the communities in which we, as citizens, live and
work. They are arguably the records that most affect our daily lives
and those of our neighbors, documenting our marriages; the education
of our children; the homes, land, and businesses we own; the social
services we receive; and civil and criminal legal proceedings in our
communities.
CoSA's "Closest to
Home" Project is analyzing current conditions and will attempt
to determine what services, standards, and funding strategies would
work best to ensure the long-term preservation of and access to local
government records. It is being supported by a two-year grant from the
National Historical Publications
and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Products
Report of the Task Force - January 2008
"Closest to Home: Preserving the Nation's Local Government Archives"
Executive summary with recommendations and an action agenda for 2008 (PDF, 4pp, 76KB)
Full report provides detailed findings and recommendations. January 2008. (PDF, 54pp, 257KB)
Case Statement & Call to Action. Materials to help you make the case for supporting local government archives. Issued August 2010.
Valuing and Protection Local Government Records: Making the Case for Local Government Archives (PDF, 4pp, 4 MB)
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This document is designed to build the "case" for supporting local government archives. It explains why local government records are important, highlights factors that threaten them, and describes strategies to ensure long-term preservation and access to these important documents by citizens and governments alike.
A Call to Action: Doing Your Part for Records That Are Closest to Home and Closest to You (PDF, 2 pp, 85 KB) - Specific actions that individuals citizens and local government officials can take to improve the care and ensure long-term preservation and access.
Consultant reports to the Task Force
Jami Awalt, "Training in Managing Local Government Archival Records"
(Word, 23pp, 136KB)
Geof Huth, "Sustainable Funding for Local Government Archives"
(Word, 38pp, 164KB)
Gregory Hunter, "Impact of Information Technology on Local Government Archival Records" (Word, 39pp, 252KB)
Bruce Dearstyne, "Raising Awareness and Strengthening Advocacy"
(Word, 77pp, 353KB)
Other project information and resources:
Project
overview
Task Force members
and staff
Survey
of programs and services for local government records in state
archives and records management agencies
(March 2006) (Word document,
763 KB) (PDF, 160 KB)
Annotated
bibliography on local government records
(Word document, 227 KB)
Milestone
documents, significant reports on local government records
from a national perspective from the mid-1960s to the present.
Local
Government Archives Listserv, instructions for joining
Additional resources re: local government records:
In CoSA's Archives
Resource Center:
Records
schedules for local government records
Emergency/disaster
planning and recovery
From the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA) http://www.nagara.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=67
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