My thanks to Roz Griston who passed the following posting on. We are not the only ones concerned about the preservation and eventual access of Census records. Gordon -----Original Message----- From: Mark Howells [SMTP:markhow@oz.net] Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2000 7:05 AM To: NORFOLK-L@rootsweb.com Subject: NARA agrees to preserve scanned images of 2000 US Census Hi all - This may bring heart to those in other countries who are lobbying their respective governments over issues of records preservation and access. http://www.nara.gov/nara/pressrelease/nr00-82.html The US National Archives and Records Administration has "changed their mind" and agreed to preserve the scanned images of the 2000 US Census for future researchers. The images won't be opened to the public until 2072. NARA's original plan called for the destruction of these electronic images (the paper originals have already been destroyed) in favor of maintaining only an extracted database of the responses contained on the census forms. Those in the UK may wish to take note that the scanning technology used for the US 2000 Census will also be used for the UK 2001 Census. Same contractor (Lockheed Martin), same process, and the same questions whether to preserve the paper forms, the digital images, or the extracted database. Cheers - Mark -- Mark Howells Norfolk-L Genealogy Mailing List Owner markhow@oz.net http://www.oz.net/~markhow/genuki/NFK/norfmail.htm