Things I Would Like To Point Out Pt. 3

Yesterday, there was a user meeting at the National Archives in College Park. Although I didn’t attend, I still heard all of the terrible ideas that came up during the meeting. My primary concern is that they want researchers to mail in requests a few days before they come in to do research. Wow! I didn’t realize I live in the year 1940! There is no reason why it is necessary to further delay the pulling process unless they plan on getting rid of the pull staff. While this works for large agencies and possibly vets, it is not at all what any researcher wants. It’s hard enough to wait for pull times. I hate to reiterate the fact that the archives are supposed to be there for the researcher as a service. Now they want us to pay postage to pull records! Am I going to have to send a telegraph when staff gives me the wrong box? And wait a fortnight for the correct box to arrive?