If you identify an open record you want to see during your visit, go to Step 4.
If you find a record that is not open that you want to see, go to Step 9.
If you are unable – even with a reference officer’s help – to find relevant records, it is likely that the National Archives does not hold records relevant to your topic.
If you want to undertake further or more in-depth research, it is often easiest if you visit a reading room. Here you can speak to a reference officer for ideas on where to go next with your research.
Only a small number of records are available online and many items are still not listed on RecordSearch. In some cases you may need to search hard copies of item lists which give similar details to item descriptions on RecordSearch.
Our reading rooms are located in each capital city and they offer facilities, services and specialist reference staff to help you with reference inquiries. Fact Sheet 1 lists our addresses and hours of opening.
Please note that we do not transfer records between offices. This means that you can only view original records in the reading room of the office where the record is held.
Our reading rooms are for viewing original archival records. They are equipped with all the facilities you need to identify and use records in the collection:
There is no charge to use finding aids, consult staff or access records in a reading room. There are, however, charges for obtaining copies of records. See Fact Sheet 51 – Copying charges.
Specialist reference staff are available in each reading room to assist with your research queries. On your first visit we will discuss your reseach inquiry with you to determine how best we can help you.
Staff are unable to undertake detailed research for you, but they will happily:
The reference service is available free of charge.
When you have identified records you would like to see, you can request to view them in a reading room. For more on how to do this see Step 5: Request records to view in a reading room.
All researchers using original records must hold a current reader card and agree to abide by the reading room rules. A reader card number is obtained by registering as a researcher when you log in to our collection database, RecordSearch. For more information on registering as a researcher, see Step 3: Use RecordSearch.
Once you have ordered records, they will be retrieved and delivered to the reading room. The time it will take us to deliver them to a reading room will vary, depending on whether they are held on site or off site, held in low-temperature vaults (eg photographs) or in other specialised storage. You should check at the time of ordering the records how long it will take for them to be delivered to the reading room you're visiting.
There is some material available for browsing in reading rooms. This is generally limited to a few photographic collections, microfilm copies of frequently-used records (eg family history, shipping and railway records) and paper lists of individual record items.
Most records are made available to you in a reading room in their original form. When you use an archival record you are often using the only copy that exists. Because of their age, archives are fragile and the information they contain is vulnerable to damage or loss through constant or improper handling. The preservation and security of these records is one of our main concerns, so in some cases a copy may need to be provided instead of the original.
Sometimes you may be asked to wear cotton gloves when handling archival records. For very large, heavy items, a special pillow will be provided. At all times, please exercise care when handling any record.
Everyone who uses our reading rooms must abide by the reading room rules. These rules say how records should be handled and the standards of behaviour we expect from researchers in the reading room. Reading rooms are under continuous electronic surveillance to help staff make sure that the records are being properly handled.
You may not:
Before you start visit a reading room, please read Fact Sheet 3 – Reading room rules.
You may use a personal computer and digital camera in designated areas of the reading rooms. Laptop cases must be left in a locker. Personal scanners are not permitted.
Photography is permitted provided it does not disturb other readers or damage the records. Please ask the reference officer first and read Fact Sheet 230 – Using cameras in the reading room.
Mobile phones must either be switched off or left outside the reading room.
Copying of archival records is done on your behalf. This ensures that unique and irreplaceable records are copied carefully by trained staff and that the order or sequence of the papers is not disturbed. The only exception to this is self-service copying from microform-reader printers.
You can purchase online copies and print copies of some records through RecordSearch. Online copies will be made available for viewing in RecordSearch. Find out more about requesting copies in Step 6: Order copies.
Food and drink are not permitted inside reading rooms. Most offices have an area for eating and drinking, and all offices are within walking distance of retail food outlets.