Plan your visit and contact the archives

While you are using the search room you, and those around you, may be handling original documents. These records are unique and irreplaceable. Please share with us the responsibility for their safe keeping.

• personal belongings, including all bags and handbags, should be left in the lockers provided - you may bring research notes and laptops, tablets and other electronic devices into the search room (laptop cases should be left in a locker)
• pencils only may be used when taking notes - pens may not be brought into the search room
• do not bring food or drink into the search room
• do not write on documents or mark them in any way
• do not bring sharp implements (such as scissors) into the search room
• ensure that your hands are clean and dry before handling documents
• follow the advice of staff at all times when handling documents
• do not take any documents, transcripts, microfilms, microfiche, guides or catalogues out of the search room

In addition please note:

• mobile phones should be switched to silent in the search room
• the use of personal scanners is not permitted
• the use of personal cameras is not permitted without prior consultation with staff and the purchase of a photography permit
• we offer a range copying facilities and services - please ask for details
• smoking is not permitted on the premises

Please ask a member of staff if you have any queries.

Thank you for your co-operation.

The search room is used for the consultation of original documents, microfilms, transcripts, guides and catalogues. Archives staff provide supervision and are available to offer help and advice at all times.

Guides and catalogues

Guides to our holdings can be found on the display stand in the search room. More detailed catalogues for individual collections are available on the search room shelves. Our online catalogue can be accessed here.

Microfilm

Many records are available for consultation on microfilm. Visitors using microfilms will be issued with a numbered box and, if relevant to their research, a guide to some of our more frequently used records including parish registers.

Microfilms are individually numbered and stored in cabinets in the search room. The relevant microfilm number can be found by consulting our guides and catalogues. Visitors should take only one film at a time, leaving their box as a marker in its place. The box should then be retrieved when the film is returned to the cabinet. Use of the microfilms is on a self-service basis, but staff are available to help.

Self-service machines are available for printing and scanning copies of records on microfilm. Please ask staff for information on current charges.

Original documents

In most cases we are able to produce original documents for consultation. Exceptions apply to some frequently used material, including parish registers, and documents in poor physical condition.

We recommend that you order original documents in advance where possible, but we will accept additional document requests during your visit. Please order original documents by completing a request slip and returning it to a member of staff. Reference numbers for original documents can be found in our catalogues but staff are happy to assist.

Documents will normally be retrieved within twenty minutes of a request, although document production may be less frequent at busy times. We regret that it is not usually possible to retrieve records between 12pm and 2pm.

Each document or group of documents will be produced to view singly and in turn. Please treat original documents with care and follow the advice of staff regarding handling.

Transcripts

Some records are available as transcripts, abstracts or facsimiles. Our published guides will direct you to this material, most of which is available on the search room shelves.

Internet access

We have one computer with internet access available for public use. Visitors are also welcome to use their own laptop computers and devices. The search room has free Wi-Fi available.

We welcome group and educational visits by prior arrangement.

We can offer:

• talks on subjects including the work of the archives 
• behind the scenes tours including the conservation studio and our reprographics department
• group bookings to consult our collections in the search room
• space to hold meetings or to undertake project work

Please contact us for further details.

We can accommodate groups of between five and 15 people for tours, which last around 45 minutes to one hour. A charge of £3.30 per head is made for group tours.

For group bookings in the search room, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

There is no charge for school visits.

Self-service microfilm readers are available for making digital or A4/A3 paper copies of records on microfilm.

You are welcome to bring your own camera to take photographs of the original documents in our care (excluding the North Riding Registry of Deeds and original parish registers) upon purchasing a personal copying permit.

The following costs apply: 

• £1.10 per scan/digital image taken (up to 6 scans/digital images)
• £7.15 per half an hour microfilm scanning/digital photography (up to 30 scans/digital images)
• £22.00 per day personal copying permit (microfilm scans and/or digital images)
• £49.30 per week personal copying permit (microfilm scans and/or digital images)
• £1.10 per A4 print from microfilm
• £1.60 per A3 print from microfilm

Please bring a USB memory stick if you wish to take digital copies from microfilm, or you can purchase an 8GB USB memory stick for £7.15.

North Riding Registry of Deeds

Self-service copying of the North Riding Registry of Deeds volumes from 1885 onwards is not allowed.

The NRRD volumes from 1736 to 1884 are accessible to view on microfilm and digital or print copies can be taken, for costs please see Self-service copying and photography above.