Notice of Intent: Improve access to NPS Archives

archived

The National Park Service (NPS) creates resource management records in the course of daily business which are considered permanent. These records incorporate the long history of assembling data on and managing park cultural and natural resources during the past century. Over 40% of known agency archives are uncataloged. The need to utilize information in these inaccessible records grows daily. (1) This project provides an archives-focused educational work experience for archives, library, and digital information students which will complement classroom instruction through continuing efforts to assemble and catalog archival collections and improve park and public access to archival information of the NPS. Students, in cooperation with archivists from the Intermountain Region Museum Services Program will inventory an estimated 1 million uncataloged archives to provide initial information about collection contents. Approximately 2,000 legacy archives catalog records will be updated, and finding aids will be generated for them to facilitate access. Cataloging, also with finding aids, will be completed for an estimated 101 linear feet (about 161,000 items) of archives from Coronado National Memorial, Denali National Park, and John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. (2) (3) An estimated 34,000 items from Coronado National Memorialâ¿¿s archeology records, John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkwayâ¿¿s resource management records, and the Western Archeological and Conservation Centerâ¿¿s Ruins Stabilization and Submerged Resources collections will be digitized. These collections are part of on-going efforts to share information, while providing experience with applying the National Archives and Records Administration digitization protocols and best practices. A prototype collections guide, consolidating information about paleontology and geology resources in the Intermountain Region, will be developed. The guide will create a descriptive list of references and direct users to digitized versions that may exist on the NPS Data Store. Opportunities to gain library experience in periodicals management, circulation, and research also will be offered. (4) (5) This project will provide an ideal forum for students to acquire diverse skills related to the management of archival, library, and digital information and strategies for making those resources available to multiple audiences, while enhancing the studentsâ¿¿ employability in the public or private sector. (6)

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