Comment on proposed reduction in NARA reading room

Richard writes “Archivists have a chance to be advocates for public access to government information “a core principle of archives” by commenting on a proposed reduction in NARA’s reading room hours.

The National Archives has announced plans to reduce the hours of its reading rooms at the Washington DC and College Park MD facilities. Specifically, it will cut evenings and weekends, with the result that records held by NARA will be available only during normal business hours. This cut in service is a direct result of a need to reduce operating expenses. You can find the rule at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061 800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-11763.pdf.

NARA held a public hearing last Thursday, 3 August. I spoke on behalf of the Society of American Archivists, expressing concern that this was a serious barrier to public access. Restricting reading room hours to business hours requires that many, maybe most, members of the public must take time off from work to use the collections. The effect is that they may have to pay for access in terms of lost wages.

While I’m sure all archivists appreciate the challenges of budgets and the costs of extended hours, I believe it is essential for NARA to find some means to retain some extended hours. One option would be to remain open evenings or weekends, rather than both. Archivist Weinstein commented that he was committed to the principle of access to records. In other comments, the Archivist noted that public input would be a factor in the final determination of hours.

You can help make the case for the importance of public access to public records by submitting comments online at www.regulations.gov. For the agency, select National Archives and Records Administration all. In the Keyword, type hours. Click submit, and you’ll see an icon for adding comments.

You can also send comments by fax (301-837- 0319) or by mail to Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL), Room 4100, Policy and Planning Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.”

Richard writes “Archivists have a chance to be advocates for public access to government information “a core principle of archives” by commenting on a proposed reduction in NARA’s reading room hours.

The National Archives has announced plans to reduce the hours of its reading rooms at the Washington DC and College Park MD facilities. Specifically, it will cut evenings and weekends, with the result that records held by NARA will be available only during normal business hours. This cut in service is a direct result of a need to reduce operating expenses. You can find the rule at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061 800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-11763.pdf.

NARA held a public hearing last Thursday, 3 August. I spoke on behalf of the Society of American Archivists, expressing concern that this was a serious barrier to public access. Restricting reading room hours to business hours requires that many, maybe most, members of the public must take time off from work to use the collections. The effect is that they may have to pay for access in terms of lost wages.

While I’m sure all archivists appreciate the challenges of budgets and the costs of extended hours, I believe it is essential for NARA to find some means to retain some extended hours. One option would be to remain open evenings or weekends, rather than both. Archivist Weinstein commented that he was committed to the principle of access to records. In other comments, the Archivist noted that public input would be a factor in the final determination of hours.

You can help make the case for the importance of public access to public records by submitting comments online at www.regulations.gov. For the agency, select National Archives and Records Administration all. In the Keyword, type hours. Click submit, and you’ll see an icon for adding comments.

You can also send comments by fax (301-837- 0319) or by mail to Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL), Room 4100, Policy and Planning Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.”