THE NEW KEW
23/6/08
16:14
Page 12
The New Kew Using our exclusive step-by-step guide Penny Law shows you how to use the newly redesigned reading rooms and facilities at The National Archives
O
ver the past few months the public areas at Kew have been extensively remodelled. Whether you are a regular or a first timer to The National Archives, this guide will tell you what to expect. At its heart lies the Open Reading Room on the First Floor, which allows readers to use digitised resources as well as those still available on microfilm without the need for a reader’s ticket. It is here that you can talk to experts about your research or browse the indexes. If you need to look at original documents, such as ships’ logs and most war diaries, you will need to obtain a Reader’s Ticket and go into the Document Reading Room. Meanwhile maps and many pre-18th century records can be consulted in the Map and Large Document Reading Room on the Second Floor.
2. Improved signposting of the reading rooms and facilities make it easier for readers to find their way round. 12
A N C E S TO R S
1. Your first port of call on entering The National Archives is the welcome desk. The staff here will give you a basic introduction to the Archives, although they no longer issue Reader’s Tickets, which is done upstairs in the Open Reading Room.
3. You only need a Reader’s Ticket to read original documents. Getting a ticket is very straightforward, although you need to remember to bring two pieces of identification, one proving your identity, such as a bank card, and another proving your current address, like a recent utility bill. Tickets are valid for three years.
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