Thanks for bringing this situation to the forefront. While it is
obvious Archives never get the funding we would all like them to
receive, these changes are a lot more drastic than might be apparent.
The facts paint a slightly different picture than the "spin" given in
the press announcement. I did a brief analysis and comparison of the
current hours of operation for the DC NARA facilities and the proposed
hours.
Current hours open for research - 57.25 per week.
Proposed hours open for research - 40.00 per week
30.13% reduction in available hours of research.
Current core hours (8:45AM to 5:00PM) - 41.25 hours per week - 72% of
total hours
Current night hours (Thurs/Fri 5PM to 9PM) - 8.00 hours per week - 14%
of total hours
Current weekend hours (Sat 8:45AM to 4:45PM) - 8.00 hours per week - 14%
of total hrs
Patron Utilization
Core hours - 78%
Night hours - 13%
Weekend hours - 9%
Record Pull Times per Week
Core Hours - 25
Night Hours - 0
Weekend Hours - 0
One of the apparent main "talking points" in the Press Release to
justify the reduction in available research hours is the low utilization
by patrons of the Archives during the Night and Weekend hours.
The Night Hours represent 14% of the current open hours of operation and
represent 13% of patron utilization. This can hardly be classified as
Under Utilization. The Weekend Hours represent 14% of current open
hours and 9% of patron utilization. While this is much lower it is not
an outcome that should be a surprise. You get the results that you plan
for. What should be a surprise is to accomplish a 22% patron-researcher
utilization during a period of time when NO records are pulled. The NO
record pull time represents 28% of the current hours of operation.
A more insightful analysis might have resulted in NARA seeking ways to
increase Patron-Researcher utilization during the Night & Weekend hours
and ways to make records more available than less available. Not all
researchers have the ability to conduct Research during Core Business
Hours. For them, Night and Weekend hours are the only reasonable option
they may have. Out of town researchers spend significant amounts to
fund their travel and stay in Metro DC and look to utilize their time to
the maximum. I personally doubt that the "head count" for the Archives
Patron-Researcher usage will increase in any significant manner from
its current Core Hour levels once the new schedules are instituted.
People who can't do research during the work week now, will not be able
to do research during their work week a month from now. Decreased
overall utilization will not aid in future funding requests. Long term,
any Public Archives needs more Patrons representing a broader spectrum
of public to enthusiastically become involved in research.
Budget realities are budget realities. If the funds are not there to
continue the status quo, then they are not there. I would hope that
NARA looked at all other options including those others Archives utilize
such as Monday closings to the public, half-days on Saturday, shortened
night hours, etc to keep the facility open to the broadest spectrum of
the public. However, forthrightness about the core issues might have
rallied the Public and Research community to lobby their Representatives
& Senators for better funding.
Automatic digest processor wrote:
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:38:46 -0400
> From: "Grundset, Eric" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: NARA rule to change research/exhibit hours in DC area; public comment request
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Nancy Allard
> Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 8:51 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: NARA rule to change research/exhibit hours in DC area; public
> comment request
>
>
> ** High Priority **
>
> The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) published today, =
> July 25, 2006, in the Federal Register an interim final rule requesting =
> public comment on a change in the hours for conducting research at the =
> National Archives Building (DC) and National Archives at College Park =
> (MD) and for visiting the Rotunda and National Archives Experience on =
> the Constitution Ave side of the National Archives Building.
>
> =A7 This rule and the changed hours will go into effect October 2, =
> 2006. =20
>
> =A7 Comments on this document must be received by September 8, 2006. =
> See the rule at the link below or at www.regulations.gov for information =
> on the ways to submit comments.
>
> =A7 A public meeting relating to the rule will be held at the =
> Jefferson Room in the National Archives Building at 1 pm on August 3. =
> Please enter through the Special Events entrance on the Constitution =
> Avenue side of the building (between 7th St. and 9th St. NW). =
> Reservations are not required but space may be limited.
>
> =A7 A link to the rule is at: =
> http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.=
> gov/2006/pdf/E6-11763.pdf
>
> BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE RULE: NARA is revising its regulations =
> with respect to research room and museum hours at our facilities in the =
> Washington, DC, area. The operating costs for these facilities have =
> been increasing every year, particularly for staffing, security services =
> and utilities. In these times of fiscal restraint, NARA has determined =
> reluctantly that it is necessary to curtail service during time frames =
> when only a small percentage of our users are present to ensure that we =
> are able to provide quality services to customers during the times of =
> greatest public use while we are also conducting other mission-critical =
> duties. Additional information about this rulemaking is available in =
> the text of the document at the URL above.
>
> POSTED BY:
>
>
> Nancy Allard
> Senior Policy Specialist
> Policy and Planning Staff
> NARA
> 301-837-1477
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
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