NARA to Only Accept Digital Records for Archival Effort

The National Archives and Records Administration is embracing a digital future as it requires federal agencies to submit only digital copies of records.

Lisa Haralampus, the director of Federal Records Management Policy and Outreach at NARA, said that after June 30, NARA will only accept digital forms of various records, which should meet Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative standards.

The digitization effort is a multipart process that uses different techniques to scan and digitize records. To help agencies comply with the directive, NARA set up a new digitization center in College Park, Maryland, Federal News Network reported.

Haralampus said that the new mandate will not add another burden to federal offices. She added that digitization is already being practiced to carry out their mission, and NARA only ensures that such effort will not go to waste.

Besides the digitization initiative, NARA also disclosed in August that it plans to use artificial intelligence to support the agency’s records management processes.