It's Official: NARA Announces Reduced Hours

As reported in this newsletter several weeks ago, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) proposed to reduce the number of hours the agency's research facilities are open to the public. More than 11,000 genealogists "electronically signed" a petition asking for reconsideration. That petition was delivered on September 9. Click here for details. The Office of Management and Budget apparently received a final listing of 530 letters and 2 signed petitions, including ours.

The petition apparently had an effect although not as much as we had hoped. The National Archives is still reducing its weekly hours, but the agency will be open longer hours once a month. NARA also cut the times of the document retrievals. Now it will be 10 and 11 AM and 1:30 and 2:30 PM.

In short, the National Archives is reducing its services significantly.

Here is the full announcement:

From: "NOTICE" <NOTICE@nara.gov>

Date: September 26, 2006 10:25:39 AM EDT
Subject: NARA Notice 2006-278, Final Rule on Research Room Hours Change
________________________________________________________________________________________
September 26, 2006

I announced in July NARA's plan to reduce the research room hours in the National Archives Building and the National Archives at College Park, effective October 2.   This measure was taken in response to the need to reduce operating expenses significantly in order to have sufficient funds to fulfill our mandate throughout the fiscal year.  As detailed in NARA Notice 2006-229, the rule would change our hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The interim final rule was published on July 25, 2006, and was open for 45 days for public comment.  A well-attended public hearing was held on August 3.  We received over 530 comments on the rule. 

In response to strong public comment, we have modified the schedule to provide extended research room hours once a month on Thursday and Friday evening and Saturday.  The new hours are:  Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Once a month, we will have extended hours to accommodate researchers who seek evening and Saturday hours.  The monthly extended hours are:  Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., and Saturday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.  The first extended hours will be held October 19 through 21.

In addition to the forthcoming publication of the final rule on September 27, we have posted signs in the research rooms in Washington and College Park and are sending a message to many of our constituent organizations notifying them of the new hours.  We also will have the new hours posted on www.archives.gov/research/, including the specific dates for extended hours in FY 2007. 

As a researcher myself and a past user of National Archives services, plainly I am troubled by the need to institute these reduced hours.  I can only assure you, however, that I will make every effort in the months ahead to restore NARA to a financial situation that will allow us to resume our existing hours.

ALLEN WEINSTEIN
Archivist of the United States

Comments

[soccermom]

So much for public comments being effective.

I really find this disgusting. Extended hours once a month isn't enough.

All they have to do is alter their work hours a little to make the facility available to "late" hours on a regular basis. Makes you wonder how much they are committed to serving the public.

[P.K. Morse]

I have used the College Park, GA facilty on several occasions. I had to make an advance reservation for use of a viewer, since these are in short supply and the facility was already at capacity from 9-5 M-F. I did not go at other times out of consideration for those who were employed 9-5. The changes will be most troublesome for the currently-employed who cannot come 9-5, M-F.

[John M]

This is typical of our government. There is always money available for all the other countries of the world or for support of big business but no money available for things that directly benefit the citizens of our country.

[Jerry Kliot]

Perhaps all researchers should begin to submit requests for information under the Freedom Of Information Act with the expectation that NARA will do the research for us and send us the results. This may not be a valid request under the Act. However, it would show that we are serious about restricted access to materials.

[R Hanneman]

Those running the NARA have a challenging job to do.
Running an large agency, keeping a budget and serving the public.

It is obvious that that those in charge made their decision with too little concern for serving the public.

If this was a business who could only survive by giving the public what was needed, the 9-5 hours during the week would have been reduced and expanding evening & Saturdays. That is the obvious thing to do, but it would take some forward thinking.

Again, government is forgetting about serving the people who pay their expenses via taxes.
The NARA has a monopoly.

[Bart Hansen]

I have just returned from a two-day trip to the main Archives location at 7th & Pa Ave in Washington, and must say I was impressed by their renovated facility. The staff seemed more helpful than what I remember from five years ago and the new film readers are great. Even the new chairs are comfortable enough for several hours of reading.

Yes, it's too bad about the hours, but you can always skip up to the Library of Congress at night for some city directory perusals. I only wish they would upgrade their microform room and equipment.

[Jim Allen]

I do not feel all the blame should be placed on the National Archives, or just on 'the government', in general. Nor does it seem likely that showing we are serious about restricted access will accomplish much. The blame for NARA's lack of funding can be placed on the current Administration and the Congress, the majority of whom would rather wage a war in Iraq and reduce taxes for our wealthier citizens. Helping to elect leaders with other priorities might help more- - .

[Joy Rich]

The report in the Federal Register of September 27th didn't bother to mention that one of the two petitions submitted to the National Archives in opposition to reduced hours contained over 10,000 signatures, many with comments. Since being submitted, the number of signatures has risen to 11,773. The petition was begun at the Federal of Genealogical Societies conference. It is online at http://www.petitiononline.com/FGS2006/petition.html.

The Federal Register report is at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2006_register&position=all&page=56357. Click "Next Page" to read the second page of the report, then click it again to read the third and final page.

The Appropriations Committee severely underfunded the National Archives for fiscal year 2007.

[Janice C. Buker]

What has not been clear to me is does this affect all regional archives? If so, will a schedule be posted online as to when the extended hours will be for each month, especially for those planning future vacations?

[missy]

I still don't understand why they won't change their days of operation from Mon-Fri to Tues-Sat. It would still be the same number of hours but would allow those who work 9-5 during the week to have access on Saturday.