Requesting original documents
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.
To request an original document during your visit, please ask staff for a request slip. Only one item should be ordered on each slip and staff will show you where to hand in your completed slips and CARN ticket.
You only need to reclaim the ticket when you have finished and want to leave the office.
- Original documents are produced from the store rooms, Tuesday to Friday, 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 2:00pm.
- The last opportunity to request documents is 4:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday and 3:00pm on Fridays.
- On Saturday, original documents are produced from the store rooms at 9:30am, 10:30am and 11:30am. Please see our Saturday opening page for more information.
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.
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 we can offer
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 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.
Using your laptop
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.