The Virginia Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (VAGARA) is a statewide, non-profit organization whose members are primarily affiliated with state or local government. It is an organization interested in the development and implementation of policies and standards which ensure the proper preservation of historical records throughout the Commonwealth while providing leadership in the advancement of techniques and technologies to manage the storage, maintenance, retrieval, and disposal of public service records. VAGARA is also dedicated to the development of a better understanding of federal, state, and local laws which govern public records.
VAGARA members represent multi-dimensional interests throughout the Commonwealth in the archives and records management professions. Members of the association have served on the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) Standards Committees, Virginia State Historical Records Advisory Board, Virginia State Records Council, Mid Atlantic Archives Conference, Society of American Archivists, National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, the national and local Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA), and have participated in numerous conferences and seminars and workshops as trainers and facilitators.
Established in 1984, VAGARA serves as a vibrant link in promoting the value of archival and records management practices at both the state and local levels through exchange of professional information, forums for the introduction of new and exciting techniques, and by keeping abreast of developments in modern technology and its impact on public service information requirements.