Visiting the Archives

Visiting

We warmly welcome you to use all the services on offer in the Treasure House.  When you enter the building the Archives and Local Studies Service's research room will be facing you. The locker room and public toilets are in the corridor off the main entrance.

• The collections of the Archives and Local Studies Service can be looked at in the research room in the Treasure House.

• Most of our collections are freely open for the public to see.

• The Archives and Local Studies Service is a reference service only.  No item can be taken away from the research room.

• Some archive collections are closed mainly because they contain personal information that is restricted under Data Protection law.  A donor or depositor can also ask for their documents not to be seen until a future date.

What you can expect

The Archives and Local Studies research room is divided into two areas. If you want to look at archives, rare printed books or museum objects then staff will let you through a sliding door that divides the two areas.

• You can see the archive and local studies collections in the research room.

• There are microfilm and microfiche viewers for looking at collections that are available on film and fiche.  We advise you to book a reader before you arrive.

• There are books from the local studies collection and family and local history reference books that you can take from the open shelves.

• There are public access computers where you can search the internet or our own online catalogues. You can use the library edition of Ancestry.com on these computers.  You can print from these computers.

• There is a public access photocopier for copying from books on the open shelves. Please note that copying of documents and fragile books is only done by staff.

• There is a public access copier for self service copying from microfilm and microfiche.

• There is a room for viewing audio-visual archives with a monitor, dvd player, cd player and audio cassette player.

• There is an interview room for private conversations.

• You can use your own laptop if it is run from the battery or if it has been tested by an electrician (portable appliance tested). We regret that we cannot let you plug your own laptop into a socket for health and safety reasons.

• You can use a camera in the research room.  We do make a £10 per day charge for you to use your camera. There is no limit to the number of images you can take for this charge.

• When you are let through the sliding door to look at items you will be asked for your County Archive Research Network (CARN) readers card. See below for what this is and how to get one. You will also be asked to sign a visitors book.

• You will be asked to give up your readers card. Staff look after it at the counter. We will let you back out the sliding door and return your readers card when all the items you have used have been returned and checked back by staff.

• You can order documents in advance by ringing the Archives and Local Studies Service on 01482 392790.  This means that we can have your documents waiting for you when you arrive. You can use our online catalogue to find what you want to look at.

• There are some restrictions on getting documents out on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays where there are a limited number of staff on duty. If possible, we ask that you pre-order the documents that you want to see at these times. We do offer to get a limited number of items out for you on evenings and Saturdays provided the research room can be supervised properly.

Disabled Access

• There are six disabled parking spaces located at the Treasure House.
• All public areas are accessible to wheelchairs, including the toilets.
• There is a lift to the refreshment and exhibition areas on the first floor.
• A hearing loop is also installed.

What we ask you to do

We have to be sure that our collections are secure and looked after carefully.  Many of the documents, books and objects are old and fragile. We take great care of the things we look after and ask you to do the same. We want to preserve our collections both for you and for generations to come.

We ask for your help in this by doing the following things:

• Please leave your coats and bags in the lockers provided.  We ask you to do this to help us reduce the risk of casual theft.

• Please take the time to read the research room rules.

• Please use only pencils when you make your notes.  We ask you to do this so that documents and books do not get marked or damaged.

• Please make sure that your mobile phone is switched off.  Mobile phone rings disturb other users.

• Please respect other users who need to work in a quiet area.  An interview room is available if you need to hold a long or loud conversation.

• Please do not bring food or drink into the research room.  There is a cafe in the Treasure House.

• If you are looking at archive, rare printed books or museum objects you will need a County Archive Research Network (CARN) ticket.  See below for information on how to get this.  We also ask you to sign a visitors book.  We need to do this because we have to know who is looking at the collections.

• Please handle all documents with care.  Please do no lean on or put your notes on any item.  You can use the book rests and weights in the research room.  Do feel free to ask staff for help if you are not sure how to handle an item carefully.

County Archives Research Network (CARN) Readers Card

• The East Riding Archives and Local Studies Service is part of the County Archives Research Network (CARN) readers card scheme.
• The CARN scheme is a group of record offices that have joined together to provide readers cards for local archive offices.
• The card can be used at any of the over 50 record offices that are part of the scheme.
• CARN tickets are valid for 4 years.

How do I get a County Archives Research Network (CARN) Readers Card?

• We can issue you with a readers card in our research room.
• If you want to look at archives, rare books or museum objects then you will need to have a reader’s card
• You will need to give us proof of your identity, which must include your name, current address and signature.
• A combination of different documents can be used together, for example a utility bill (address) with a cheque guarantee card (signature). A driving licence is ideal because it has both.

• These are some of the forms of identity accepted as part of the CARN scheme:
  • Driving licence
  • East Riding library ticket
  • Building society passbook
  • Family allowance book
  • UB40
  • Pension book
  • Medical card
  • Disabled person’s registration
  • Post Office savings book
  • Official letter
  • Bills from utilities
  • Bank statement
  • Correspondence with archive office
  • Official ID cards
  • Foreign passports

Please contact us if you would like any additional information about the CARN readers tickets scheme.

Contact

Telephone number: 01482 392790
E-mail address: archives.service@eastriding.gov.uk

Opening Hours

Monday 9.30am – 5.00pm
Tuesday 9.30am – 8.00pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 5.00pm
Thursday 9.30am – 8.00pm
Friday 9.30am – 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 4.00pm

Where to find us

East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Local Studies
The Treasure House
Champney Road
Beverley

Please click here to find us on a map.

Postal Address

East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Local Studies
County Hall
Beverley
East Riding of Yorkshire
HU17 9BA