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National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a restricted federal facility

301 points by LastTrain

by IvyMike

6 subcomments

From the site:
> All researchers must apply and present a researcher card, which may be obtained in Room 1000. This ensures that proper identification is on file for all individuals accessing the building to establish a legitimate business purpose. Abuse of any researcher registration to circumvent access by the general public may result in a trespass situation and a permanent ban from access to all NARA facilities.
What the hell does "legitimate business purpose" mean? What "business" need is there for JFK Assassination records (which I think are at this site), for example? If I'm getting a PHD or writing a book, is that a "business" need? I suspect not.
Also, "Abuse of any researcher registration to circumvent access by the general public may result in a trespass situation and a permanent ban from access to all NARA facilities" seems like a very poorly constructed sentence.

by gardnr

1 subcomments

Looks like NARA are underfunded [1] and trying to grapple with how to prioritize digital transformation while still meeting KTLO demands. They closed three facilities last year. [2] The goal was/is to digitize everything to increase access to the archives for everyone.
The current administration reduced NARA funding and, in February, dismissed Shogan as "Archivist of the United States" but it appears a plan for a strategic shift was underway before those changes.
1: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/foia-audit/foia/2024-03-15/us-nati...
2: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2024/nr24-37

by Molitor5901

3 subcomments

I have a researcher card, it's not an arduous process. The staff are very kind. When you show up to the National Archives in Washington, DC., prepare to encounter a general group of 2 dozen pros carrying scanners, laptops, etc. It's quite the experience.
I don't see this is that big of a deal. It's open, you can access it, but they are controlling more. Given the propensity for the theft and destruction of archives documents in the past, I'm ok with more security.

by simonw

1 subcomments

This is about "the National Archives at College Park, MD". That's one of quite a few facilities they operate: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archives_at_College...

by dotty-

1 subcomments

There are multiple 'National Archives' across the country: https://www.archives.gov/locations Looks like this only affects the one in College Park, MD.

by voganmother42

0 subcomment

On display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying “Beware of the Leopard”.

by runlevel1

0 subcomment

Looks like they quietly took the message down. For posterity, it said:
> ⓘ Restricted-Access Federal Facility, Effective July 7, 2025
>
> Effective July 7, 2025, the National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a restricted-access federal facility with access only for visitors with a legitimate business need. It will no longer be open to the general public. Security officers will enforce these restrictions, and your cooperation is appreciated.

by patel011393

0 subcomment

I recently used this archive for a course paper and it only took 1-2 days of training and paperwork to get approved.
I don't strictly need this archive anymore, but I recall when the federal layoffs were first being announced that staff were down about it.
As a first-time archives user, this is a major loss to the research community. I met people who flew in from around the country for various projects, working on their graduate degrees and consulting here.
When I used the facilities, I saw signs in multiple areas about people who were caught stealing records and warnings that the consequences are significant (federal crime). But this action is senseless. Their security is very tight with scanning before entering, restrictions on materials and bags that can be brought upstairs, and people monitoring to ensure that special procedures are followed. These places are understaffed and underappreciated. Funding should increase for these national treasures.

by ggm

2 subcomments

I appreciate analogous cases are often not helpful, but in the UK some institutions like the national library of scotland are so-called "copyright libraries" and they have always restricted access to people who register and declare an interest grounded in research, or some gatekeeping around legitemate need otherwise. In many instances the documents held in these institutions are both rare, and contextually unique. Like paleological holotypes their role is different to objects on display in museums and collections.
I also believe in the general public's right to see and access things which relate to government. I'm just trying to point out that whilst this probably is reactive to current affairs (cost management? risks? FUD?) there are reasons and situations outside the USA where this is normal, and I do not mean "has been normalised to disadvantage you" -I just mean that identifying who you are and why you want to do something isn't that unusual, in archive access.

by bennettnate5

0 subcomment

Not to be confused with the National Archives _Museum_, where you can still readily visit to see important documents such as the declaration of independence.

by angry_octet

0 subcomment

It also requires special permission to access the Kremlin archives.

by ChrisArchitect

2 subcomments

Can we update the title to National Archives at College Park, MD to restrict public access starting July 7?

by jekwoooooe

7 subcomments

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by jacobmarble

0 subcomment

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by tehjoker

0 subcomment

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by hooverd

0 subcomment

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by almosthere

2 subcomments

It's comical to me that anyone is complaining here because
a) everyone with a business purpose are the only ones going.
b) NO one on hacker news is ever going to go.