Before you visit us we advise checking our online catalogue or list of popular records to check whether we have what you are looking for.

Researchers need a CARN (County Archive Research Network) ticket. These are free and can be issued immediately if you have proof of name, address and signature. One-day temporary tickets are also available. You will need to show your ticket each time you enter and exit the search room.

Visitors need to sign in to agree to search room guidelines

• to maintain the search room as a quiet study area, eg. phones off
• to handle items with care and use pencils only
• not to drink or eat, including sweets and gum
• to leave bags, including. laptop bags, and outdoor items in lockers
• observe all legal requirements, eg. copyright, data protection

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything if you are a first-time visitor, but don’t despair! Our friendly staff are there to help and advise you. Or why not try one of our Beginners Evenings?

Parish registers, wills, newspapers, census returns for Hampshire and the Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths for England and Wales are on microfiche or film. Other records relating to family history are not on microform and will need to be ordered from the strongrooms.

Microform viewing machines are always available; just use a free one.

Retrieval of documents and other items from our strongrooms ceases after 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm on Friday and 3.30pm on Saturday. Items required for weekday evening use must be ordered before these times.

When your documents are ready for collection, your name will appear on our plasma screen. You will need to surrender your CARN ticket when you collect them from the Help Desk; this will be given back when the documents are returned. One-day temporary ticket holders may also see documents; please ask staff for advice.

Our documents are unique, so please handle all documents with care and touch them as little as possible. Ensure you have clean hands and write notes using pencils only. Use book rests and cushions to support volumes. Staff will be happy to advise you on all aspects of document handling.

Most documents can be copied, although some copying restrictions apply.

Options are

• Use self-service machines for printing from microform
• Use your own hand-held camera on payment of a £10 session/day fee
• Use our photocopy or digital photography services. See Getting copies

• Power points for laptops on all tables
• Access to internet and Ancestry
• Magnifying aids
• Self-service printing from microform
• Ultraviolet lamp for reading faded ink
• Light box for viewing slides and negatives
• A refreshment room with a hot drinks machine and chilled water.
• A cloakroom area with lockers, lockable coat hangers and toilets
• Garden and terraces
• Baby changing facilities

How we can help

We welcome disabled people and our staff will do all they can to ensure that you enjoy your visit. If you need extra assistance staff are happy to help. You are welcome to bring along a friend or helper with you.

Parking

• Two designated accessible parking spaces are located off Station Hill. From there access to the main entrance is approximately 100m, or disabled visitors can use an alternative closer (staff) entrance at the rear of the building using the intercom. Please contact us in advance, tel 01962 846154 to reserve a space
• Public car parks 100 metres

Our building

• At the main entrance one of the external doors is push-button operated
• Automatic doors to the searchroom
• Ramps and lifts
• There are accessible toilets on the ground floor and one unisex accessible toilet on the top floor
• No automatic doors to cinema and education workroom.
• Ramp available to get out onto level 4 balcony
• Carrydown evacuation chair available
• Guide dogs and assistance dogs welcome

Facilities

• Accessible toilet
• Hearing induction loops in reception, search room and cinema

• A portable hearing loop is also available
• CCTV magnifying machine in the searchroom
• Magnifying glasses in the searchroom
• Automatic microfilm viewer available
• Automatic rise and fall table

Please telephone 01962 846154 if you have any queries.