Take along some ID. You will then be asked to fill out a small slip of paper with your name, address and phone number and you sign the entry book. Takes all of 2 minutes. Cards are not issued now. At least this was the situation up to last week when I was last there.
If you want you can pay £10, I think it is for an all day photography pass so you can take your own photos. I think you can get photo copies of parish records for around 50p. As usual only notebooks and pencils rule applies. There are free lockers to put your bag, coat in.
If you run out of time and need to look up Newcastle burials the library not far off has these too. Central library is open til 7 pm. Great for old newspapers.
There is a cafe upstairs where you can get a drink. Sainsburys and M&S at the nearby Central Station. Gregg over the road from Central Station.
Try to get there when it opens if possible just in case it gets full quickly and all microfilm readers get taken. They don't have as many as Woodhorn. Let them know what kind of reader you prefer. I try to stay off the hand wind one - too laborious although some prefer this. Or ring them up and book if you can. The staff will give you a run through of what is where if you let them know it is your first time.
Be aware that you can't order items down over lunch time, such as work house records or other registers. This does not apply to microfilm which are in filing cabinets. Prepare well before you go, make a list of what you are after - time always goes too quick there.
This website will give you some idea of what is there - parish records/workhouse, etc. Click on Tyne and Wear User Guides on the left.
http://www.margaret-hall-genealogy.com/page6.htmYou are going on a good day as Wednesday is often the busiest, I have found.
Hope you have a great day there. Happy hunting!
