The Main Reading Room is located on the first floor and is the first area that you should visit if you intend using the Library’s printed or microfilm collection. The Library Assistant on duty in the Main Reading Room will assist you in searching for information.
The Main Reading Room provides seating for 75 readers. Of these 8 places, are reserved for those reading rare books. All tables have facilities for laptop use and eight large tables are reserved solely for consulting hard copy newspapers or large format material.
While the bulk of the collections are held in areas closed to the public, a range of reference works is available in the Reading Room for the convenience of users.
Services provided in the Main Reading Room include:
- Reference assistance
- Online access to the Library’s catalogues and databases
- Access to the manual catalogues
- A collection of open access reference works
- Self-service photocopiers
- Reprographic service
- Online resources
There are two Microform Reading Rooms in the main Library building. One is located adjacent to the Main Reading Room and provides microfilm reading facilities for 20 readers.There are also 3 microfilm reader-printers located here, allowing readers to copy selected material directly from the microfilm.
A second Microform Reading Room on the first landing off the main staircase has 20 microfilm readers and is reserved for consulting parish registers on film. Three computer terminals in this room provide access to a range of online resources. A further nine computer terminals are located in the Genealogy Advisory Room where readers can now print from the expanded range of online services.
Please note that parish registers may not be copied.
Note: The Main Reading Room is a working area for researchers, therefore general access for non readers is limited. To give visitors an opportunity to visit this historic room access is permitted 9.30am-12.00pm, Monday- Friday only. A short, guided visit of the Reading Room will take place at 2.30pm on Saturdays.
See Opening Hours or take an Online Tour of the Main Reading Room.