Press ReleaseDecember 11, 2009

National Archives Hosts Public Forum to Discuss Research Area Changes at Archives I

Washington, DC…On Thursday, December 17, at 1:00 p.m., the National Archives will hold an open public forum to discuss changes under consideration for public research areas in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Genealogists, scholars, Government agency offices, and all other researchers who use the services and facilities of the National Archives are invited to share their needs and concerns. The meeting will take place in the Robert Warner Research Center of the National Archives Building, located at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Attendees should use the Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Research Entrance.In recent years, microfilm usage by researchers has dropped significantly. Given this decreased demand for the numerous and bulky microfilm reader machines, the National Archives now has an opportunity to reallocate space in the building. By reducing the size of the microfilm reading room to the number of stations actually in demand by researchers, the National Archives can expand much-needed office space for staff and public program spaces for visitors, while both maintaining and strengthening researcher services.There have been discussions this fall between researcher representatives and National Archives staff on ways to design and equip proposed new research areas. The National Archives now invites the general public to participate in this discussion. National Archives staff will explain the reasons for undertaking a space plan, its objectives, and the planning process, and will invite comments and answer questions. Alternative proposals will be described and considered at this public forum. The goal is to reallocate space and update equipment and systems so that researchers receive the most value from every square foot of space.Reservations are not required. Those who cannot attend are invited to send written comments to: inquire@nara.gov.

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The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 • Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or               1-866-272-6272         1-866-272-6272

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