Visitor guidelines
Whether you are new to Bristol Archives or you have visited many times before, please take some time to read our visitor and handling guidelines and watch our searchroom video before you visit us.
These guidelines ensure the safety and security of our records and our visitors. By signing our visitors’ register, you agree to abide by these during your visit. We hope your visit is productive and enjoyable.
When you arrive, please:
✓ Report to the searchroom team. If you’ve not pre-booked an appointment, we’ll ask
you to sign our visitor’s register.
✓ Silence your mobile phone and only take/make phone calls in the foyer during your
visit.
✓ Place essential small items that you need in the searchroom inside a clear bag or
sleeve. Plastic bags are available if required, but please return them before you leave.
✓ Place all other items in the lockers in the foyer, including belongings such as handbags,
bags, camera/laptop cases, coats and umbrellas.
× Do not take pencil cases, document wallets/folders, ring binders or box files into the
searchroom unless they are transparent and clear (not coloured).
× Do not take any food or drink into the searchroom, including sweets or gum.
× Do not leave valuable items unattended at any time, including cameras and laptops.
Lockers are available in the foyer but Bristol City Council cannot accept liability for any
items lost or stolen on the premises.
In the searchroom, please:
✓ Use only pencils. Pencils may be borrowed during your visit.
× Do not use pens, erasers or post-it notes near archival documents.
✓ Follow any guidance provided on using and handling archives, including regarding glove
use, document weights, mounts and supports.
✓ Ask our staff if you need any assistance – we are here to help.
✓ Purchase a photography licence before taking any photo (flash photography and
scanning equipment is not permitted)
✓ Remember that archives can be dusty and dirty; always wash your hands after using
documents, especially before eating.
In the event of evacuation alert it will not be possible to collect coats or bags. You should evacuate the building immediately as instructed by staff, who will be acting according to fire orders drawn up in consultation with the Fire Brigade. Thank you for your co-operation.
Download our visitor guidelines (PDF 102KB).
Using the searchroom
Please take some time to watch this video about using the searchroom before you visit us.
Document handling guidelines
Help us to care for the documents by following these handling guidelines, and following advice from the Bristol Archives team.
General guidelines:
- Make sure that your hands are clean and dry (hand washing facilities are available in the toilets in the foyer. Please do not use hand sanitiser.)
- Make sure your workspace has enough room for the documents you are looking at – documents should not overhang the desk. Large tables are available for looking at oversize documents.
- Handle material as little as possible and with care. Do not wet your fingers when turning pages. Acid free paper markers are available to avoid direct contact with documents.
- Keep material in the order in which you received it.
- Do not lean on, fold, crease, or mark documents. Do not place anything on top of the records you are consulting, including notepads or cameras.
- Do not remove any fastenings, such as paperclips, staples or pins.
- Do not remove items from their enclosures without consulting with a member of our team first.
Handling aids:
- Book sofas (large and small) are available to support bound volumes.
- Foam wedges are available to support bound volumes and delicate loose sheets.
- Snake weights are available to weigh down pages and sheets.
- Leather and glass weights are available to hold down rolled items, springy parchment and loose sheets.
- Nitrile gloves are available for handling original photographic material which is not enclosed in an acid-free plastic enclosure.