Comment Deadline for NARA’s RFI on Alternative Models for Presidential Libraries Extended to 21 May 2009

On 17 April 2009, several organizations concerned with transparency and accountability in the federal government, including SLA, wrote a letter to Adrienne C. Thomas, Acting Archivist of the United States National Archives and Records Administration, in response to the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) recent request for input (RFI) into the development of alternative models for Presidential Libraries with a deadline of 21 April 2009.

The letter, stating that it is critical that NARA take full account of the effect any alternative model may have on the public’s ability to gain access to important historical documents and on NARA’s obligation to provide the public with timely access to important historical documents, requests an extension of the comment period beyond the 21 days allotted for public comments. The extension was granted on 21 April 2009 in a revised letter from NARA, extending the deadline to 21 May 2009.