MALA FALL MEETING , Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005
 

 41 members and guests attended the Fall meeting of the Metro Atlanta Library Association at the new facility of the National Archives & Records Administration, Southeast Region in Morrow, GA. We were treated to an overview presentation of the history of the National Archives and the Southeast Region facilities by Jim McSweeney.  After the presentation, Mr. McSweeney and his colleague Mary Evelyn Tomlin gave tours of the new facility and detailed demonstrations of the holdings and the online catalogs.

 Whether our primary interests were genealogy, civil rights, court records, the census, government documents, photographs, or digital archives, we discovered that it may all be found in the National Archives. We received a very fine behind-the-scenes tour and presentation, as well as an overview of the collections and demonstration of access methods via computer and microfiche.  Search has been greatly improved by the newly redesigned website of the National Archives & Records Administration: www.archives.gov .

Tomlin and McSweeney managed a group of our size well by dividing us into three rotating groups, so that we all had opportunities to view collections, catalogs, and facilities close-up and to ask questions. It was a very stimulating and interesting tour for all - MALA members, spouses and friends alike. We even spotted a few SLA members in our midst, as they were likewise invited to join us. The presentations and tour earned  two hours of continuing education credit. Many thanks to Jim McSweeney and Mary Evelyn Tomlin for their care and consideration in planning and delivering an excellent program!

Information about the National Archives, Southeast Region may be found on their website:
http://www.archives.gov/southeast/index.html .

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