What should I do before I arrive?
Think about the research that you want to carry out. Gather
together any information that you may already have, please look at
our
family history or
property history pages to see what these might be.
Many of our documents are available on microfiche or
microfilm. This service is very popular, so if you know that
you will require one of these machines please
contact us to book one in advance or to check to see if one
will be required.
What should I bring?
Notepad: Needed to record what you find.
We have a supply of these available to purchase in the
searchroom. We also supply
data collection
packs that take you through in a logical step-by-step manner
what you should record for family or property history.
Pencil: These should be used for
note-taking, use of pens can cause irreversible damage to books and
documents.
Previous research: This will help the staff to
know how to help you further.
Driver's licence or official addressed
document: We are part of the
County Archive Research Network (CARN) and a CARN reader's
ticket is necessary to gain access to archive material and books
not on open access. An official document containing the
intending searcher's name and address must be produced before a
CARN ticket will be issued.
Searchers should sign the searchroom register on arrival.
You are welcome to bring along your laptop to record your
information, but, tape recorders and copying machines may not be
used in the searchrooms due to the possibility of disrupting
others. Arrangements can be made for use of tape
recorders elsewhere in the office; please ask a member of staff
about this.
Cameras may be used, if you want to use one please ask
the staff about our self-service photographic facility.
What do I do when I arrive?
Please sign our searchers register upon arrival.
Please place all bags and cases (including large hand-bags)in the
lockers provided. Bags too large for the lockers should be
left with the searchroom staff.
How do I order documents?
Complete the document request slip provided for each item
required (other than books, maps, microfilm or microfiche on open
access). Searchers may order upto four items at any
one time. A bundle of deeds or papers will be regarded as one
item. Then hand this along with your CARN ticket to the
searchroom desk.
Documents may be ordered up to 30 minutes before closing time. If a
document is required for the following day the staff are able
to hold it so you have easy access to it.
How should I handle books and documents?
If transcripts or microform copies of documents exist the staff
will ask you to view these instead of the originals. Books or
documents which are in a fragile condition cannot be
produced.
If you are having difficulty reading the document, please ask the
staff for a magnifying staff; however, nothing should be placed on
a book or document when it is being read. If you want
to trace a document, please ask a searchroom member of
staff who will provide you with a protective transparent,
this should be placed between the tracing papers and the
document.
Once you have finished with a document please repack
files and bundles exactly as they were produced
and return them to the searchroom desk.
At this point they will be checked and your CARN ticket
will be handed back to you. Books from the open shelves
should be left on the tables; microfilm and microfiche should be
replaced in the cabinets and binders.
What amenities are available?
There are separate eating areas as eating and drinking are not
permitted in the searchrooms. Due to the irreplaceable
content stored, if you wish to smoke, please do so outside of the
building.
We have a special play area set aside within the searchroom
for young children.
Unfortunately, we have no area set aside for animals
Guide dogs for the blind are allowed in the
searchrooms.