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Open Data Policy

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is working to implement the May 9, 2013, Open Data Policy by making available a listing of publicly available datasets, an schedule for expanding and enriching the public listing, encouraging customer feedback on the agency's implementation, and a description of our data publication process. 

Public Data Listing

NARA's Public Data Listing is available at http://www.archives.gov/data/

View NARA's publicly available data assets on Data.gov:

Inventory Schedule for Open Data Policy

NARA will follow the OMB requirements for quarterly reporting and will work to maintain the Enterprise Data Inventory by expanding the number of data assets included in the inventory, enriching the metadata, and opening additional data assets by November 1, 2014. NARA will update the enterprise data inventory as data assets are identified throughout the agency or at least quarterly. NARA will work towards the following milestones:

  • By February 28, 2014
    Begin public feedback and staff input; enrich metadata of public assets
  • By May 31, 2014
    Expand data assets to include resources available on Archives.gov; enrich metadata of public data assets
  • By August 30, 2014
    Expand data assets to include historical datasets on the agency's Online Public Access system; enrich metadata of public data assets
  • By November 30, 2014
    Expand data assets to include those identified by NARA program offices, staff members, and the public; enrich metadata of public data assets

Internal nomination of data assets by NARA staff members will be encouraged and reviewed quarterly for new data assets. There will be an open call for staff members to identify data assets over time on the agency's Internal Collaboration Network. NARA will work with data asset owners to enrich metadata, including increasing the number of keyword tags and clarifying descriptions of data. NARA will regularly identify new data assets related to information systems through the agency's Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) process, as business needs are identified.

Customer Feedback on Open Data Policy

NARA will consider your suggestions on expanding, enriching, and opening data assets. Please send us your ideas and suggestions through the following channels:

Please let us know what alternative formats you would like to see for data assets so that the data can be more easily used.

Data Publication Process

NARA will determine whether data assets have a valid restriction to release and ensure appropriate data assets are made available publicly. This process will include internal review of data assets by the agency's General Counsel and NARA's senior leaders. NARA will utilize the access levels of "Public", "Restricted Public", and "Non-Public", as defined by implementation guidance, to categorize all agency data assets.

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