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Current Situation.
It has been well-known for over 20 yers that the conditions in the main DC Archives building, 1300 Naylor Court NW, put its records at risk and limits research access. For example, there was Sewell Chen's report in The Washington Post in 2003. In the FY2014 capital budget, the District approved funds for a new facility for the Office of Public Records and Archives; however, despite several studies and proposed location much remains to be done. For example, the city stores its records in over a dozen locations in and outside the city, but lacks a census of what is where. Alarmingly, DC agencies generally fail to keep their records in a way that protects the city from legal liability or allows for meaningful audits. The Naylor Archives barely meets its obligation to enrich the District's public life and understanding of its history. Other short comings include:
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Solution
The DC Archives should be housed in an adequate, state-of-the-art facility that ensures the preservation of the city's records. Historically significant records must be preserved and made part of the cultural life of the city. It must also must meet the needs of researchers and those who with an interest in DC's records. The city needs to meet its legal mandate to retain and manage its records, including digital records.
Friends of the DC Archives PositionThe Friends of the DC Archives applauds the initiative for a new Archives facility. We urge the mayor, city council and other elected officials to adequately fund the facility. The new facility should provide for the preservation, research, access to and public display of our invaluable, historically important materials.
In the short-term, 1300 Naylor Court must be properly maintained. The city also must establish oversight of current storage regardless of where located.
To carry out these goals, the city needs to seek a project team that will address the concerns of the research community and the needs for the city. This team should also work with city agencies to retain and manage their records as required by DC statute.re to edit.
The DC Archives should be housed in an adequate, state-of-the-art facility that ensures the preservation of the city's records. Historically significant records must be preserved and made part of the cultural life of the city. It must also must meet the needs of researchers and those who with an interest in DC's records. The city needs to meet its legal mandate to retain and manage its records, including digital records.
Friends of the DC Archives PositionThe Friends of the DC Archives applauds the initiative for a new Archives facility. We urge the mayor, city council and other elected officials to adequately fund the facility. The new facility should provide for the preservation, research, access to and public display of our invaluable, historically important materials.
In the short-term, 1300 Naylor Court must be properly maintained. The city also must establish oversight of current storage regardless of where located.
To carry out these goals, the city needs to seek a project team that will address the concerns of the research community and the needs for the city. This team should also work with city agencies to retain and manage their records as required by DC statute.re to edit.