> it looks like the files can't be downloaded or saved electronically,
   at all, period. They have to be printed instead
   This is such bullshit

   On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 11:03 PM, Michael Best
   <[1]themikebest@gmail.com> wrote:

   I spoke to someone from the list privately and did a little digging -
   it looks like the files can't be downloaded or saved electronically, at
   all, period. They have to be printed instead, from one of four
   computers which are located in College Park, MD (transparency!). So now
   I'm working on a plan to print and scan files from CREST. Given the
   scale (11+ million pages)...
   I plan to be down there on Tuesday; I'll get more information and solid
   numbers (document counts, print speeds, etc.) and see where things are
   from there. Keep your fingers crossed, I may actually be able to get
   something.
   --Mike

   On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 7:18 PM, Michael Best
   <[2]themikebest@gmail.com> wrote:

   I'll take notes on the access and interface when I'm there next,
   hopefully next week.

   On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 7:16 PM, Martin Becze <[3]mjbecze@gmail.com>
   wrote:

   How exactly is the accesses setup? Can we arbitrary software that
   accesses DB?

   On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 7:07 PM, Michael Best
   <[4]themikebest@gmail.com> wrote:

   Anyone can access it, but only from NARA II at College Park, MD. I'm
   there on a semi-regular basis and want to figure out a way to
   efficiently liberate the docs that are only accessible from
   there....because that's some weird-ass censorship.

   On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 7:05 PM, Martin Becze <[5]mjbecze@gmail.com>
   wrote:

   Can anyone access the CREST db? Do I need any specail permission?
   On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 2:55 PM, Michael Best
   <[6]themikebest@gmail.com> wrote:

   I'm spending a fair amount of time at NARA II. Any thoughts on how I
   might be able to automate retrieval of documents from the CREST
   database? There are about 10 million pages of CIA docs that haven't
   even been accessed, much less made their way online.
   Since 2000, CIA has installed and maintained an electronic full-text
   searchable system, which it has named CREST (the CIA Records Search
   Tool), at NARA II in College Park, Maryland. Over 11 million pages have
   been released in electronic format and reside on the CREST database,
   from which researchers have printed about 1.1 million pages. In order
   to directly access CREST, a researcher must visit the National Archives
   at College Park, Maryland.
   [7]http://www.foia.cia.gov/collection/crest-25-year-program-archive

References

   1. mailto:themikebest@gmail.com
   2. mailto:themikebest@gmail.com
   3. mailto:mjbecze@gmail.com
   4. mailto:themikebest@gmail.com
   5. mailto:mjbecze@gmail.com
   6. mailto:themikebest@gmail.com
   7. http://www.foia.cia.gov/collection/crest-25-year-program-archive