SAA Joins Leading Archival Organizations in Submitting Recommendations for IMLS Reauthorization

December 12, 2024—On December 4, the presidents of the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the Council of State Archives (CoSA), the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), and the Regional Archival Associations Consortium (RAAC) submitted a joint letter to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The letter presents key recommendations for IMLS reauthorization language to better enhance the capacity and sustainability of archival institutions across the country. Recommendations included clarifying the relationship of archives to libraries and museums within IMLS's scope and explicitly authorizing IMLS to award grants to repositories.

The archival leaders also expressed concern at archives not being included in previous conversations about IMLS reauthorization. They emphasized the importance of archives as a part of the nation's heritage and urged IMLS to take their recommendations seriously and invite archives organizations to the table in future sessions. 

Read the letter sent to IMLS.