Response from the Archival Researchers Association Regarding NARA Revised Draft FY 2022 - FY 2026 Strategic Plan

[Archival-Researchers-Association]

Thank you for allowing the Archival Researchers Association to respond to the Revised Draft FY 2022 - FY 2026 Strategic Plan.

The Archival Researchers Association recognizes the challenges and pressures the National Archives has operated under for the last 16 months because of the ongoing COVID pandemic. That said, we feel that the draft strategic plan that NARA released on July 28th is woefully short on the kind of “SMART” goals that private sector organizations strive to achieve. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. We would like to see NARA plan to address the immediate challenges it faces today and over the next five years rather than present a list of aspirational goals that don’t commit the Agency to specific policies, programs, and progress. The plan should include detailed steps for each year to move the Agency toward its stated goals and deadlines for completing them. The goals the National Archives sets for itself should be informed by the twin (and closely-linked) values of Access and Preservation and should be evaluated by real-world metrics. Developing a strategic plan needs to involve all the stakeholders: Congress, the Administration, other Federal Agencies, NARA staff, and the researching public. We hope the Agency will re-evaluate its goals in light of the current conditions it faces, as well as the needs of veterans, the general public, museums, libraries, and research communities.

The Board of Directors
Archival Researchers Association