(a) There is established in the Office of Libraries and Archives, the position of Archivist of the United States Virgin Islands who shall function under the general supervision and control of the Director, in conjunction with the Archives Council. The Archivist shall be appointed by the Governor, on the basis of merit as determined by technical skill, experience and other qualifications best suited to carrying out the purposes of sections 28f through 28h of this chapter.
(b) The Archivist shall be the official custodian of the Archives of the United States Virgin Islands and of all other records which are transferred to him from any agency, and he shall be responsible for the management, disposition and preservation of all material in his custody.
(c) Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Archivist shall:
(1) establish standards, regulations and procedures for the selection, retrieval, copying, if necessary, and preservation of records, or the acceptance for incorporation in the Archives of the United States Virgin Islands of any documents, materials or items of whatever kind and from any source within or outside the United States Virgin Islands, that have sufficient historical or other value to warrant their continued preservation by the Government, and enter into such contracts or agreements with such individuals or entities, public or private, as may be necessary or desirable in acquiring such records, documents, materials or items;
(2) establish standards, regulations and procedures for the determination and deposit of records which do not or will not, after the lapse of specified periods of time, possess sufficient administrative, legal, fiscal, historical or other research value to warrant their further retention; provided, no records known to pertain to unsettled accounts, claims, incomplete investigations or pending litigation shall be destroyed until satisfactory settlement of the matter has been made;
(3) establish standards, techniques and procedures for the economical and efficient management of records;
(4) establish regulations and procedures for the selection and protection of records essential to the continuity of Government operations and the protection of the rights and interests of individuals in the event of any emergency;
(5) establish standards for the reproduction of records by photographic, microphotographic or other processes with a view to the disposal of the original records. Reproduction made in compliance with such standards shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would have and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence;
(6) establish, maintain and operate a records facility for storing and servicing records for agencies pending their deposit with the Archives of the United States Virgin Islands or their disposal as authorized in accordance with section 28f, subsection (c), paragraph (2) of this chapter; and
(7) inspect or survey the records of any agency, and make surveys of records management practices in the various agencies and make recommendations thereon. Records, the use of which is restricted by or pursuant to law or for reasons of security or the public interest, may be inspected or surveyed by the Archivist, subject to the same restrictions imposed upon employees of the agency holding the records.