The Future of Presidential Libraries: Assessing Alternative Models from a Legal Research Perspective |
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| Authors: | Timothy J Gallina |
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| Institution: | University of North Carolina School of Law , Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA |
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| Abstract: | Presidential libraries—each a unique combination of archival depository and historical museum—offer visitors an invaluable opportunity to examine millions of papers, records, and artifacts from the administrations of our chief executives. In response to a congressional directive to consider means of reducing costs and improving the preservation of and access to presidential records, the National Archives and Records Administration has proposed five alternatives to the current presidential library system. This article analyzes these alternative models from the perspective of the legal research community. After discussing the role of presidential libraries in legal research, this article considers the merits of each model and concludes that a central archival depository would best meet the information needs of legal researchers. |
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| Keywords: | centralization legal research National Archives and Records Administration presidential libraries |
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