Archivists Eira Tansey and Helen Wong Smith visited CNMI’s Northern Marianas College and other community sites as part of the Council of State Archivists “Archives Working Across Remote Environments” or AWARE project, funded by an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant. The AWARE project aims to connect the government archives and experiences of territorial archivists. Site partners participating in AWARE include CNMI, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In-person site visits are a critical component of this project, providing a clear picture of how remote the project partners are and the unique challenges they face. Site visits also allow for in-depth tours of the facilities, observation of workflows that meet community needs, and opportunities to meet with and better understand the populations that the archives serve. The purpose of these visits is to listen and observe, gathering the stories of the project partners and their communities to inform future recommendations. The Council of State Archivists provides leadership to strengthen and support state and territorial archives leaders and staff in their work to preserve and provide access to government records. Member institutions include the state and territorial government archives in the fifty states, five territories, and District of Columbia. In photo, from left, are NMC Dean of Student Support Services Charlotte Cepeda, Archivists Eira Tansey and Helen Wong Smith, NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, and CNMI Archivist Raymond Muna.
