Helen Wong Smith (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)

MEDIA RELEASE

Helen Wong Smith, archivist for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, has been elected to the Nominating Committee of the Academy of Certified Archivists for a two-year term.

The Academy is a national independent, nonprofit certifying organization of professional archivists. Individual members qualify for certification by meeting a series of defined professional standards.

Archivists can become certified only by meeting educational and experience requirements and passing the archival certification examination. Individual members demonstrate continuing professional commitment that goes beyond education and experience.

“Helen is one of only 12 certified archivists in the entire state of
Hawaii,” said Laura C. Schuster, Chief of Cultural Resources Division for Hawaii Volcanoes. “Her highly specialized skills include making sure historical and modern records and data are retrievable and searchable. She serves a vital function not only for the Park and the Academy, but also to future generations.”

Wong Smith holds a Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS), and is the lead archivist for a multi-year backlog cataloging project for all national parks in the Pacific Island Network, including Haleakala National Park, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and parks in American Samoa, Guam and Saipan.

Wong Smith has been a certified archivist since 2001. She has been a member of the Committee on Education and the Nominating Committee for the Society of American Archivists, and has served twice as the president of the Association of Hawaii Archivists.