This is the first in a series of informational email you will receive during the coming week. Some of this information is a reiteration of details you may have seen in the program booklet or on the conference website, but most of it is additional information you may want to know before arriving for the conference.

Today’s topic is NATIONAL ARCHIVES II FACILITY INFORMATION/SECURITY. Further emails to come include information on INFORMATION FOR RESEARCHERS; PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICE; and a final email of MISCELLANEOUS OTHER INFORMATION.

Location: All daily conference sessions, and the Thursday evening plenary, will occur on the lower level at the National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740. Information about the location of the Friday Presidential Banquet and Saturday Luncheon will be included in the email about parking and shuttle service.

Security: Everyone entering the building must show a valid government-issued picture ID. You must also pass through a metal detector and all items brought into the building must pass through an X-ray machine. Please be aware that this process may be time-consuming when a large group arrives at the building at the same time, i.e., after disembarking from the SHAFR Shuttle.

Telephone Service:
Public Telephones: Two pay telephones are behind the Archives II Exhibit area.
Cell phones: Do not function on the lower level of Archives II.
Contact at Archives II: Emergency phone messages can be called to 301-837-0963, the phone number for the SHAFR Registration Desk on the lower level.

Convenience Store: Located on the first floor off the lobby, before the cafeteria entrance. Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm. Closed Saturday.

Storage: During the day you may store personal belongings in the researcher lockers. A quarter is required to remove the key from the locker. The quarter is returned when you reinsert the key. Lockers cannot be used for overnight storage.

Parking: Parking is available at Archives II ONLY on Saturday. Please see the parking informational email (forthcoming and soon to be available at www.shafr.org/conference/2005) for details about parking at the University of Maryland and shuttling to Archives II.

Temperature/Climate: Despite projected outside temperatures of 85 degrees F, please consider bringing a jacket or sweater in the event you find the air-conditioned temperature in the facility uncomfortably cold.

Refreshments/Meals: Continental breakfast will be provided each morning. Refreshments will also be served during each afternoon break. If you wish to remain on-site for lunch on Friday, you must pre-order a box lunch. For lunch on Saturday, you must either pre-order a ticket to the off-site luncheon or go off-site on your own. Dinner each night is on your own, unless you have pre-ordered a ticket for the Friday Presidential Banquet.

ATM: Located outside the Research Registration Office on the first floor.

Email: You may check email in the Research Rooms. A researcher ID is required. Please see http://www.archives.gov/research_room/getting_started/researcher_card.html

Photocopies: You may make copies, for a fee, also in the Research Rooms. A researcher ID is required. Use the link mentioned above under “Email.”