With Archives Digitizing, Alaskans to Get Say in Prioritizing
Murkowski Urges Alaskans to Weigh In at Digitization@Nara.gov
Senator Lisa Murkowski welcomes the news from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) that it will listen to Alaskans’ opinions about which historical records should be digitized first after the physical documents are moved to the NARA facilities in Seattle. The deadline for Alaskans to offer their views is June 10th. Alaskans can see what records NARA currently has stored in Anchorage at http://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access.
“While I continue to have unanswered questions about the transfer and the timeline, I appreciate NARA taking Alaskans’ views about the digitization process into consideration as they begin the digitization process,” said Murkowski. “There are some documents that are more important and necessary than others – and Alaskan eyes know the difference better than an official in Washington, D.C. – so I encourage everyone with an interest in our state’s records to submit your thoughts at digitization@NARA.gov.”
Earlier this year, it came to light that the National Archives and Records Administration had decided to close its Anchorage facility as part of a national cost-cutting strategy and relocate its cache of Alaska historical records to Seattle. This announcement drew an outcry from Alaska researchers and historians, and raised concerns among the Alaska Congressional Delegation. Senator Murkowski continues to work with NARA to seek alternative Alaska sites for some records to be moved to, but many of the records will be required to continue under NARA protection.
Fortunately, NARA will leave all of their microfilm in Alaska. Senator Murkowski continues to advocate that appropriate Territorial Court Records also be left in Alaska.
