External readers wishing to consult original material must apply for an External Library and Archives Card.
No food or drink is allowed in the reading room.
Bags should be kept in the lockers provided.
Readers must use pencils in the reading room.
Documents may not be taken out of the reading room by readers.
The greatest care must be exercised in handling documents. (see Procedures for the care and handling of documents)
Staff will offer assistance and advice on how to handle items where necessary and provide equipment such as supports, snakes, gloves, acid free slips and polyester sheets.
Any defect in, or accident to, a document, must be reported at once to the Archives staff.
Readers are requested to use their mobile phones outside the reading room.
The Archives staff may not give legal advice to readers.
The Archives staff have the authority to decide on the quantity of documents issued at any one time to a reader.
Requests for documents or photocopies should be made before 4.30 pm.
When consulting bundles of documents readers are asked to take all possible means to ensure that the original arrangement of these documents is retained.
Readers who are having difficulty in returning documents into their original packaging should ask for assistance.
Where documents are too fragile for production to readers they may be withheld.
If surrogate copies exist, readers will be informed and encouraged to use them in order to minimise the use of original / fragile material.
Tracings may only be made by permission of the Archives staff. (This should be done with the use of polyester sheets)
Readers must wear the nitrile gloves provided when consulting unprotected photographs.
Acid free paper slips are supplied for readers who wish to follow the text or use temporarily as bookmarks.
Cameras can be used in the reading room with the Archivist’s permission (see guidelines on how to take photographs).
The Education Room can be used to view oversized items.
