5: Strategic Goal 5
We will increase access to our records in ways that further civic literacy in America through our museum, public outreach,
and education programs
Other Information:
America’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.
Objective(s):
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