Oct. 1, 2008 – Each year the nation, states and territories, in collaboration with the Society of American Archivists, a professional organization representing over 5,000 individual and institutional members, and the Council of State Archivists, representing all state and territorial archivists, recognize the month of October as Archives Month to highlight the importance of records of enduring value, according to a press release from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
DPNR acknowledges Archives Month is a time to focus on these records and to enhance public recognition for the people and programs in the territory that are responsible for maintaining the community's vital historical records.
Archivists are professionals who assess, collect, organize, preserve, maintain custody of and provide access to the records and materials that tell us about our history and culture. V.I. archivists work in tandem with the territory's librarians, historians, teachers and culture-bearers to provide enriched information on who we are, where we came from and where we are going.
Activities planned for the month are open to the public and include:
Genealogy Workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Adult Reading room of the Enid M. Bass Public Library, (2nd floor) St. Thomas

Presentation on the Territorial Archives from 5:30-7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Bethany Moravian Church Hall, St. John. Hosted by the Friends of the Elaine Ione Sprauve Library.
Archives Workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Caribbean Collection and Archives, (3rd floor) Florence Williams Public Library, Christiansted, St. Croix.
Open House and Tour from 1-3 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Caribbean Collections and Archives (3rd floor) Florence Williams Public Library, Christiansted, St. Croix
Genealogy Workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Caribbean Collections and Archives, (3rd floor) Florence Williams Public Library, Christiansted, St. Croix.
Archives Workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Adult Reading Room of the Enid M. Baa Public Library (2nd floor), St. Thomas.
Open House and Tour: Archives, von Scholeten Collection and Photo Duplication Lab from 1-3 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Enid M. Baa Public Library and Archives (meet in the courtyard).
For more information, call Territorial Coordinator for Archives Susan Lugo at 774-2362 or e-mail her at Susan. Lugo @dpnr.gov.vi.