Researchers and historians have praised Ombudsman Arlene Brock for her report on Bermuda Archives — but some say her recommendations do not go far enough.

Ms Brock found evidence of maladministration at the official repository for Government records and proposed that its director, Karla Hayward, be moved to a less front line role after criticism of her from users and staff.

Complaints about material being arbitrarily withheld from the public prompted the inquiry and led to more than 100 people being interviewed by the Ombudsman and her team for the Atlantica Unlocked report.

The Cabinet Office has until the end of August to decide whether to act on the recommendations and Ms Hayward, who vehemently denies maladministration, remains in the post.

History professor Duncan McDowall, from Carleton University in Ottawa, told The Royal Gazette that Bermudians needed to pressure Government for action to improve the facility.

"Standing back from the small detail, it is really amazing that a small — relative to the Government's overall mandate — organisation like the Archives can be so mismanaged that the Ombudsman could draw 111 witnesses and generate a 170-page report," he said.

"What could be more eloquent than this response to what essentially boils down to the warped personal management of one person?"

He added: "I do fervently hope that pressure is kept up by the press and interested Bermudians to see some constructive change come of the Brock report."

Photographer Mark Emmerson agreed, saying he would like to have seen Ms Brock recommend the removal of Ms Hayward as director. "If Karla does not go, Bermuda's rich and wonderful Archives are to continue to be served very badly," he said.

An overseas researcher, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I read the report yesterday and found it very well-researched and dead-on in its analysis of the kind of maladministration the Archives has had."

She added: "As an overseas researcher on Bermuda heritage, I just hope her recommendations are acted upon."

Ms Brock suggested in her report that the fees charged at the Archives for the use of images and other materials be reviewed.

James Martin, from Canada, who worked on a broadcast series about Bermuda's history, told this newspaper: "I think that the Archives should be charging a much more modest usage fee, and a reasonable electronic duplication fee, for commercial, educational and non-profit films that promote the history of Bermuda."

Former Berkeley Institute teacher David Chapman said he used the Archives for research for a master's degree.

"I found all the staff to be courteous and extremely helpful," he said. "I was charged no fee for my use of materials but was charged a very small fee for photocopying. I found the unit to be well organised and staff to be quite knowledgeable about not only the archival system but the information in the archives and its accessibility."

Meanwhile, a member of Bermuda Historical Society, who wrote a letter of reference for Ms Hayward two years ago, has objected to it being included by her in her rebuttal to Ms Brock's report.

The July 2007 letter by John Cox, who is on the society's executive committee, said he deeply appreciated her "keen professionalism as the Bermuda Government Archivist".

Mr. Cox contacted the Ombudsman after her report came out and said he was concerned that the personal written reference solicited by Ms Hayward had been included as it was "written to matters which have no bearing on the current review".