A new state archivist has been hired to oversee records management services for state and local governments in Kentucky. Beth Shields will assume the position after the previous employee retired after 32 years at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). Shields has worked for the libraries and archives department for seven years. This news came to us from The Daily Progress out of Kentucky in their article, “State hires new archivist to oversee records management.”

Shields will be responsible for leading the Archives and Records Management Division as well as the coordination of a records advisory board that provides advice and assistance to nearly 300 archival and manuscript repositories in the state.

This is an important position as the records held in the archives date from 1780 to the present, and include records from each gubernatorial administration, and from all 120 Kentucky counties. KDLA provides equitable access to quality library and information resources and services, as well as helping public agencies ensure that legislatively mandated documentation of government programs is created, efficiently maintained, and made accessible.

Melody K. Smith

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