What is a CARN ticket?
This is a nationally recognised system of reader's tickets for local authority record offices, introduced to ensure that the users of irreplaceable records deposited in record offices can be identified in the unlikely event of documents being stolen or misused.
How do I get one?
Obtaining a ticket is simple: just bring in identification showing name, current address and signature, this can be on one document or a combination of items (see list below). There is a short form to complete and staff will then issue your ticket.
What identification do I need?
Acceptable identification
- Driving licence (either old style or photo card)
- Utility bills
- Pension book
- Medical card – if address included
- Bank statements
- Bank and Credit cards
- Building society or post office books (if address included)
- Non EU passports (if address included)
- Official letters, eg from Social Services, NHS etc.
- Correspondence with Northamptonshire Record Office
Identification that cannot be accepted
- EU passports (no address included)
- Library or National Archives Tickets
- Tickets from offices that are not in the CARN scheme
- Business cards
- Work identity cards
- Membership cards of voluntary organisations
- Personal letters
- Birth or marriage certificates
This list is not exhaustive, please contact staff about the suitability of other forms of identification.
If you think that bringing suitable identification will be a problem for you please contact the Record Office and ask to speak to the County Archivist, Public Services Manager or Preservation Manager.
This will also enable us to comply with the Data Protection Act.