The council of state archivists (cosa) will lead a planning grant designed to investigate and articulate the needs of territorial (american samoa, guam, northern mariana islands, puerto rico, and U.S.…

The council of state archivists (cosa) will lead a planning grant designed to investigate and articulate the needs of territorial (american samoa, guam, northern mariana islands, puerto rico, and U.S. Virgin islands) and non-contiguous state (alaska and hawaii) archives, producing guidance documents, and the development of a plan for their support. In coordination with cosa staff, project consultants will develop topic areas and questions to explore and determine the best methods for data collection in specific areas of discovery. In-person site visits are a critical component of this project and will provide a clear understanding of unique challenges these archives face. In alignment with cosa's annual meeting, participating institutions will gather in-person for a symposium and listening session to further cultivate a community of practice. Community building, assessment, and data sharing will be ongoing activities, leading to project outcomes that include developing a stable community of practice between project partners, articulating plans to address the primary concerns identified through data collection, and creating public facing reports and templates to share recommendations and replicable tools for implementation.