2/1/2004
By Diane Haddad
Take a peek inside the National Archives' new research center.
After a two-week closure, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) <
www.archives.gov> unveiled its new research facilities to oohs and aahs on Oct. 27. Several research services formerly housed on upper floors of the 68-year-old building were expanded and relocated to the ground floor. The new
National Archives Building Research Center enables patrons to access more records, archival finding aids, the microfilm reading room and archives staff in one location. Some renovation highlights:
? In the Genealogy Consultation and Microfilm Research Rooms, researchers can get assistance from NARA archivists, view indexes and records on film and fiche, and use NARA's computers to access the Internet. New microfilm readers feature laptop computer hookups, so you can type notes while reading film. More film publications NARA plans to make available in the microfilm room include records from the Freedmen's Bureau, compiled military service records of the United States Colored Troops, and the Department of State application and recommendation files covering 1797 to 1877.
? The Archival Library Information Center (ALIC, moved to the ground floor with expanded hours and more resources, including all bound and CD-ROM indexes to the federal census.