Visiting a local archive for the first time - advice please!

[HetPayne]

Hello.  My first post, so please be kind!  I started researching my family history in January of this year, so I am very much a beginner.  However, I have spent a considerable amount of time and energy building a tree and researching online.  I've reached the point where I really do need to visit a local archive to find out more about my earlier ancestors in the county (and to check if they are, indeed, who I think they are).  I have a few specific things I want to look up and have checked the records are held. What advice can you offer me?  Are there items I should take?  Will I be allowed to take my laptop? What sort of preparation should I be undertaking?  I'm feeling like a child anticipating their first day at school.  Thank you 

[GR2]

You should ask them in advance about the use of a laptop or if you can photograph parts of documents. When it comes to taking notes, they usually insist on using pencil rather than pen.

[Marmalady]

You will probably have to put all bags, coats etc in a locker -- so make sure you have your papers etc organised

And definitely ensure you have several sharpened pencils with you

[Josephine]

Sometimes documents that can be viewed on a screen can also be saved to a memory stick, so be sure to ask about that possible option, as well.

[Rosinish]

It would be an idea to state the full address of which Archives you will be visiting so people who have experience of visiting the same archives recently can help with your query but a call/email to the Archives themselves seems the most sensible thing to do as rules can change in a very short time.

Annie

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

It is a long time since I made my to visit to an Archives but all the things already mentioned are very good.

I would take a pencil & a propelling pencil also a rubber & sharpener.
I would have for books 1 for each grandparent.
try & make a note of the things you want to look for.
Make notes of the things you find, even if you think it is not relevant because several months down the road you will need it.
This is the hardest to do. When looking through the local papers for the hatch, matched & despatched always try & concentrate on what you are doing and do not get side tracked because you seem to spend most of the time reading the local news items and you only end up doing a fraction of what you started out to do.

John

[familydar]

Check if you need to pre-book a computer, film reader etc.

Keep a bottle of water in your locker, the air con makes the places very dry.  Sometimes chilly too.

You might need a coin for the locker.

You might need id - driving licence, bill etc - check first

Jane :-)

[GrahamSimons]

You may well need a reader card or ticket. Check with the website of the archive you plan to visit - you may well need proof of ID and address (e.g. driving licence and utility bill). I got my updated card from Cumbria in about 10 minutes, so it's not a great hassle. Archives cards are usable between "participating archives" so the hassle may be even less on visits to different sites.

[jackella]

Ask if there are any local family history groups in the area if you are from away.  If there are, try contacting them because there will probably be a wealth of local knowledge and usually a band of willing helpers to progress your research.