This is the room where you look at any original documents you have requested. Two Peoples Network computer terminals are situated here. You are welcome to use these for free internet access, word processing, spreadsheet or database applications.
Requesting original documents:
Request slips are available at Reception and at the Archivist's desk in the Search Room. Only one item should be ordered on each slip and the completed slips should be taken to the Search Room and placed with your CARN ticket or day ticket in the basket on the archivist's desk ahead of you by the window as you enter the room. Once we have your CARN ticket or day ticket you may put in more slips as required. You only need to reclaim the ticket when you have finished and want to leave the office.
Select a table in the Search Room and put the number of this table on your request slip. If you are not going to wait at the table for your documents, take a "Table in use" card from the desk, next to the basket for slip requests, and place it on the table. When your documents are ready, a notice to this effect will be placed on your table and requesting you to ask the duty archivist for them.
- Original documents are produced from the store rooms every half hour between 9:30am and 12:00pm. There is a lunchtime production, but we ask you to submit requests by 12.30pm. Half hourly productions resume at 2 pm.
- The last opportunity to request documents is 3.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4pm on Thursdays and 3pm on Fridays.
- Documents for Thursday evening and Saturday mornings need to be requested in advance, by 3.00pm on Thursday afternoon for that evening, and by 2.00pm on Friday for Saturday morning.
- We recommend that you contact us before your visit to request documents in advance. This can help to avoid delays for you when you arrive, and allow us to prepare for your visit.
You are allowed to see four documents at any one time, but you may request more and have them held on reserve for you to see when you are ready.
Conditions of use:
We reserve the right to refuse access to any document which is too fragile or damaged to be produced. Other records may be subject to a legal closure period because of the sensitive nature of their content. We may on occasion allow access to uncatalogued material but visitors using such records may be asked to do so under special conditions. The provision of such uncatalogued or unnumbered material will be at the discretion of the archivist on duty.
Laptops:
We have a limited number of electrical sockets in the Search Room for users of laptops. These are allocated on a first come, first served basis only. We do not operate any kind of booking service. We also ask you to complete a personal computer disclaimer form before using a socket. You can download the disclaimer form below, complete this and bring it with you. Alternatively you can fill one in when you arrive at the office. Please see also details of our new laptop policy.
Help:
An archivist is always on duty in the Search Room to make sure you get the most out of your visit by helping you to identify sources to consult and assisting you with any difficulties you may experience in the reading or understanding of the documents. Unfortunately it is not possible for the archivist on duty to spend extended periods of time with individual visitors but the Record Office does offer a Research Service that can assist with transcriptions or interpretation of difficult documents. We are also happy to help you if you have trouble unrolling large maps or unfolding unwieldy parchment deeds. We have a variety of book rests, map weights and transparent protective melinex sheets to help you use the documents in a way least likely to cause it damage.
At the end of your session:
Documents should be returned to the trolley next to the archivist's desk or to the duty archivist when you have finished with them. Any documents that are required again the following day may be placed on reserve for you. Please ask a member of staff to do this when you return them. When you want to leave, you should reclaim your CARN ticket or day ticket from a member of staff. We ask that original documents are handed back 10 minutes before closing time in order to allow staff to check them all off and return your ticket to you in time for you to leave the building at closing time.