I would just like to add to this current thread a basic, simple truth that we, as a profession, say we embrace: Archivists believe in keeping material for its USE as much as its PRESERVATION. In other words, there is no point in collecting and preserving documents if we do not allow people to look at and use them. Regardless of the political fray that marks the current NARA issue, certainly we can boil down our profession's stance by insisting on this basic principle. This is, of course, just my opinion. Kim Allen Scott A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>