Preparing for your visit

Readers' tickets

• a reader's ticket is valid for up to 3 years.
• a reader's ticket will only be issued on your personal application at an NAS search room, after you have produced photographic proof of your identity and current address
• from January 2009 we will be introducing a new style of reader’s ticket that will incorporate a photograph. You will therefore be required to bring two passport sized colour photographs with you when you first visit.
  
• old style reader’s tickets issued in 2007 and 2008 are still valid. However, if you lose this ticket, you will have to apply for a new style reader’s ticket and bring the appropriate identification and photographs.
  
• old style tickets may be superseded before the expiry date on the ticket. If this happens we will inform readers of any changes.
  
• once issued, your ticket is valid in both the Historical Search Room and the West Search Room but not the Legal Search Room, although you may consult catalogues and indexes there.
  
• when entering the NAS's buildings, you must present your ticket. On your first visit, you will receive a temporary pass to allow you access to the search rooms to obtain your ticket.
  
• because your ticket acts as a security pass, its loss or any change of the details recorded on it must be reported to the NAS immediately.
  
• your ticket remains the property of the NAS. We may charge you for the replacement of a lost or mislaid ticket.
  
• unreasonable behaviour towards other readers or staff may result in the withdrawal of your reader's ticket.

Getting the most out of your visit

• try to be clear what information you are seeking and what records you want to see
• check that the records you are looking for are in the NAS. Some other records, such as birth, death and marriage registers and census returns are held elsewhere
• make your search room visit more efficient by doing as much research remotely as possible
• consider whether there are published sources of information on your topic, which might be found in libraries or on the Internet
• gather information on your specific topic. Your research will be improved by bringing as much information with you as you can, such as names of people you are interested in, dates and places of events
• bring a full note of any specific references that you find to records held in the NAS or elsewhere
• check which search room to visit and how to get there
• bring appropriate identification to obtain a reader's ticket
• read our search room regulations
• if you have a disability, find out disabled access to our search rooms