[Genealib] Petition - NARA Research Room Hours of Access (deadline September 8)

[Drew Smith]

The following message was distributed to those attending last week's
Federation of Genealogical Societies in Boston.

Drew Smith
GENEALIB List Administrator

***

Dear Conference Attendee:

We were honored to have Dr. Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States
attend the FGS/NEHGS 2006 Conference in Boston and to address us in the
Opening Session on Thursday, August 31, 2006. Following his remarks, he was
presented with a letter by the Chair of the Records Preservation and Access
Committee (RPAC) addressing concerns about the proposed changes in the hours
of operation for the Research Rooms at the National Archives.

It has come to our attention that very few of our constituencies are making
their voices heard on this issue. This lack of response sends a loud signal
to the Archives that this is not a serious issue and that closing the
Archives on evenings and Saturdays is irrelevant. The RPAC has recommended
the following suggestions for the Archives to consider:

1)	To accommodate the needs of those who need access on Saturdays, we
propose that you close one other day per week. This would be at your
discretion. Other archives often close Sunday and Monday.
2)	Users who need evening hour access could be accommodated by opening
the archives later in the day, again at your discretion.

If you agree with the recommendations stated above, we are asking your
support by immediately going on-line and adding your "signature" to our
petition to substitute the hours of access and still help the archives to
meet their need to consolidate their hours of operation.  Before 8 September
2006, please go to:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/FGS2006/petition.html (Case sensitive)

If you would like to send your own personal letter, send it prior to       8
September 2006 and address it to:

Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL)
Room 4100, Policy and Planning Staff
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001