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A comment on National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a restricted-access facility. Parent comment

Re:National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a rest... by ggm on Tuesday June 24, 2025 @07:22PM (#44372131)
Overloading of the word "free" here. Contextually you might be meaning anonymous, unannounced, no justification required. Only anonimity would be harmed by requiring ID and in the case of at risk manuscripts, one of a kind, holograph works of significant value, I could see reasons to say "we have a booking system"

are you being reductionist on this, and "demanding" that unconstrained access exist as a norm?

I don't find identified purposeful access objectionable. I am concerned at the amount of degredation to works from constant public access to them: its a thing in european museums, cultural exhibits, lasceaux..

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Re:National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a rest... by cogman10 on Tuesday June 24, 2025 @07:37PM (#44372226)
> no justification required

That is the main thing I mean by free.

I agree, requiring ID and even appointments is something that isn't objectionable. The issue I have is requiring a justification. Who approves or dismisses justifications? What's considered an invalid justification?

Unconstrained access isn't what I'm talking about, unjustified access is.

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