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NAGARA is the only professional association dedicated solely to helping government archivists and records managers. Annual meetings provide an opportunity to meet with colleagues (federal, state and local) and learn from their experiences. Quarterly publications (only available to members) provide information about new developments and issues that are important to the profession. In particular, NAGARA puts a strong emphasis on the many challenges associated with electronic records management and preservation. NAGARA's focus on government ensures quality programming that is always relevant to our daily responsibilities, unlike other associations with broader membership. Membership includes all employees of the institution. Here are a few member insights:
Members need to be aware that NAGARA can speak out for your programs as a supporter and advocate. NAGARA will pursue historical records and information management agendas at all levels of government. NAGARA is committed to working with others to develop tools and resources critical to the successful management of government records. NAGARA is your organization. Make the most of it!
Terry Ellis
County Records Manager
Salt Lake County Records Management and Archives
NAGARA Past President
from Clearinghouse, Fall 2002
We are suspended between two worlds, and we will have to manage in both for a while. Our paper records are a priceless legacy whose value we should never underestimate. We need to learn how to live in the new world technology has brought. To be be successful, we need to talk to each other, share ideas, successes, challenges.
Jeanne Young
Records Manager Federal Reserve Board (Retired)
NAGARA Past President
from Clearinghouse, Summer 2001
Not for the first time, I reflected on how fortunate I was, as an archivist and records manager, to be outside the government mainstream... There is no great expectation about how we will do our jobs, and this allows us a measure of nothing less than creative freedom. Creative freedom may seem an odd pair of words to use when writing about government -- and even more so when writing about records, the essence or distillate of government. But NAGARA provides us with the perfect setting to realize just how creative we are.
Roy Turnbaugh
State Archivist, Oregon
NAGARA Past President
from Clearinghouse, Summer 1999
NAGARA is still the best source of help for government records administrators. It is still small enough to be friendly, and focused enough to effectively serve the information needs of members.
Kathryn Hammond Baker
Harvard Medical School, Countway Library
NAGARA Past President
from Clearinghouse Fall 1994
Government records management and archival professionals operate in a changing environment that requires them to adapt to rapid changes in recordkeeping practices, technology, and other changes. In many state governments and the Federal government, they must also operate in an emerging, and increasingly complicated, government information policy framework. State records and archives programs are taking steps to ensure that key records issues -- the definition of what constitutes a record, authenticity, adequate documentation, longevity, accessibility, legal admissibility, etc. -- are addressed as information policy is developed. NAGARA has actively fostered and supported these efforts
Bruce Dearstyne
College of Information Studies
University of Maryland
Past NAGARA Executive Director
from Clearinghouse, Winter 1997
I've kept coming to meetings of NAGARA because they make me feel that all the trials and tribulations of the rest of the year are worthwhile. Here I get to be with people who understand as well as I do how important it is to take care of the records of government whether local, state, or federal; how critical records are for government accountability in a democracy; and how vital good recordkeeping is for maintaining public trust in our public institutions
John Carlin
Past Archivist of the United States
from Clearinghouse, Summer 1998
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